Responding to Bhadrāvudha’s request to teach the gathered crowd, the Buddha warns that Māra pursues beings through the very things they cling to. He instructs the mindful bhikkhu to dispel all acquisitive craving—above, below, and across—recognizing that the world is ensnared in the realm of death solely through attachment.
“Okañjahaṁ taṇhacchidaṁ anejaṁ,
(iccāyasmā bhadrāvudho)
Nandiñjahaṁ oghatiṇṇaṁ vimuttaṁ;
Kappañjahaṁ abhiyāce sumedhaṁ,
Sutvāna nāgassa apanamissanti ito.
“Of him who has left the home behind,
who has cut off craving and is |unshaken::unperturbed, unmoved [aneja]|,”
(said the venerable Bhadrāvudha)
“who has abandoned delight, crossed the flood, freed;
of such a wise one who has left all |speculation::fabrication, imagination [kappa]|,
I make my request, O sage:
Having heard the word of the |Noble One::noble person, epithet of an Arahant, epithet of the Buddha [nāga]|,
may they depart from here [to return no more].
Nānājanā janapadehi saṅgatā,
Tava vīra vākyaṁ abhikaṅkhamānā;
Tesaṁ tuvaṁ sādhu viyākarohi,
Tathā hi te vidito esa dhammo”.
Various people from different lands have gathered,
longing for hearing your word, O hero;
For their sake, explain it well,
for this |Dhamma::the ultimate truth that the Buddha’s teachings point to [dhamma]| is surely known to you.”
“Ādānataṇhaṁ vinayetha sabbaṁ,
(bhadrāvudhāti bhagavā
Uddhaṁ adho tiriyañcāpi majjhe;
Yaṁ yañhi lokasmimupādiyanti,
Teneva māro anveti jantuṁ.
“One should dispel all acquisitive craving,
(Bhadrāvudha,” said the Blessed One)
“above, below, across, and in the middle;
By whatever they |cling to::grasp, hold onto, take possession of [upādiyanti]| in this world,
by that itself, |Māra::the ruler of the sensual realm, often depicted as a tempter who tries to obstruct beings from the path to liberation [māra]| pursues that being.
Tasmā pajānaṁ na upādiyetha,
Bhikkhu sato kiñcanaṁ sabbaloke;
Ādānasatte iti pekkhamāno,
Pajaṁ imaṁ maccudheyye visattan”ti.
Therefore knowing this, a mindful bhikkhu,
should not cling to anything in this world;
Observing beings entangled in grasping, [he knows]
this generation is ensnared in the realm of death.”
“Of him who has left the home behind,
who has cut off craving and is |unshaken::unperturbed, unmoved [aneja]|,”
(said the venerable Bhadrāvudha)
“who has abandoned delight, crossed the flood, freed;
of such a wise one who has left all |speculation::fabrication, imagination [kappa]|,
I make my request, O sage:
Having heard the word of the |Noble One::noble person, epithet of an Arahant, epithet of the Buddha [nāga]|,
may they depart from here [to return no more].
Various people from different lands have gathered,
longing for hearing your word, O hero;
For their sake, explain it well,
for this |Dhamma::the ultimate truth that the Buddha’s teachings point to [dhamma]| is surely known to you.”
“One should dispel all acquisitive craving,
(Bhadrāvudha,” said the Blessed One)
“above, below, across, and in the middle;
By whatever they |cling to::grasp, hold onto, take possession of [upādiyanti]| in this world,
by that itself, |Māra::the ruler of the sensual realm, often depicted as a tempter who tries to obstruct beings from the path to liberation [māra]| pursues that being.
Therefore knowing this, a mindful bhikkhu,
should not cling to anything in this world;
Observing beings entangled in grasping, [he knows]
this generation is ensnared in the realm of death.”
“Okañjahaṁ taṇhacchidaṁ anejaṁ,
(iccāyasmā bhadrāvudho)
Nandiñjahaṁ oghatiṇṇaṁ vimuttaṁ;
Kappañjahaṁ abhiyāce sumedhaṁ,
Sutvāna nāgassa apanamissanti ito.
Nānājanā janapadehi saṅgatā,
Tava vīra vākyaṁ abhikaṅkhamānā;
Tesaṁ tuvaṁ sādhu viyākarohi,
Tathā hi te vidito esa dhammo”.
“Ādānataṇhaṁ vinayetha sabbaṁ,
(bhadrāvudhāti bhagavā
Uddhaṁ adho tiriyañcāpi majjhe;
Yaṁ yañhi lokasmimupādiyanti,
Teneva māro anveti jantuṁ.
Tasmā pajānaṁ na upādiyetha,
Bhikkhu sato kiñcanaṁ sabbaloke;
Ādānasatte iti pekkhamāno,
Pajaṁ imaṁ maccudheyye visattan”ti.