相应部第 4 相应（Sujato 英译）第 24 阅读页 · SN4.24 · Seven Years of Pursuit

Linked Discourses 4.24Linked Discourses 4.243. Māra3. Māra

Seven Years of PursuitSeven Years of PursuitSo I have heard.So I have heard.At one time the Buddha was staying in Uruvelā at the goatherd’s banyan tree on the bank of the Nerañjarā River.At one time the Buddha was staying in Uruvelā at the goatherd’s banyan tree on the bank of the Nerañjarā River.

Now at that time Māra the Wicked had been pursuing the Buddha for seven years hoping to find a vulnerability without success.Now at that time Māra the Wicked had been pursuing the Buddha for seven years hoping to find a vulnerability without success.Then Māra the Wicked went up to the Buddha and addressed him in verse:Then Māra the Wicked went up to the Buddha and addressed him in verse:“Are you swamped by sorrow that you meditate in the forest?“Are you swamped by sorrow that you meditate in the forest?

Have you lost a fortune, or do you long for one?Have you lost a fortune, or do you long for one?Or perhaps you’ve committed some crime in the village?Or perhaps you’ve committed some crime in the village?Why don’t you get too close to people?Why don’t you get too close to people?

And why does no one get close to you?”And why does no one get close to you?”“I’ve dug out the root of sorrow completely.“I’ve dug out the root of sorrow completely.I practice absorption free of guilt or sorrow.I practice absorption free of guilt or sorrow.

I’ve cut off all greed and muttered prayer for future lives.I’ve cut off all greed and muttered prayer for future lives.Undefiled, I practice absorption, O kinsman of the negligent!”Undefiled, I practice absorption, O kinsman of the negligent!”“The things they call ‘mine’,“The things they call ‘mine’,

and those who say ‘it’s mine’:and those who say ‘it’s mine’:if your mind remains there,if your mind remains there,you won’t escape me, ascetic!”you won’t escape me, ascetic!”

“The things they speak of aren’t mine;“The things they speak of aren’t mine;I’m not someone who speaks like that.I’m not someone who speaks like that.So know this, Wicked One:So know this, Wicked One:

you won’t even see the path I take.”you won’t even see the path I take.”“If you’ve discovered the path“If you’ve discovered the paththat’s safe, and leads to freedom from death,that’s safe, and leads to freedom from death,

go and walk that path alone—go and walk that path alone—why teach it to anyone else?”why teach it to anyone else?”“Those crossing to the far shore“Those crossing to the far shore

ask what’s beyond the domain of Death.ask what’s beyond the domain of Death.When I’m asked, I explain to themWhen I’m asked, I explain to themthe truth without attachments.”the truth without attachments.”

“Sir, suppose there was a lotus pond not far from a town or village,“Sir, suppose there was a lotus pond not far from a town or village,and a crab lived there.and a crab lived there.Then several boys or girls would leave the town or village and go to the pond, where they’d pull out the crab and put it on solid ground.Then several boys or girls would leave the town or village and go to the pond, where they’d pull out the crab and put it on solid ground.

Whenever that crab extended a claw, those boys or girls would snap, crack, and break it off with a stick or a stone.Whenever that crab extended a claw, those boys or girls would snap, crack, and break it off with a stick or a stone.And when that crab’s claws had all been snapped, cracked, and broken off it wouldn’t be able to return down into that lotus pond.And when that crab’s claws had all been snapped, cracked, and broken off it wouldn’t be able to return down into that lotus pond.In the same way, sir, the Buddha has snapped, cracked, and broken off all my twists, ducks, and dodges.In the same way, sir, the Buddha has snapped, cracked, and broken off all my twists, ducks, and dodges.

Now I’m not able to approach the Buddha again in hopes of finding a vulnerability.”Now I’m not able to approach the Buddha again in hopes of finding a vulnerability.”Then Māra the Wicked recited these verses of disappointment in the Buddha’s presence:Then Māra the Wicked recited these verses of disappointment in the Buddha’s presence:“A crow once circled a stone“A crow once circled a stone

that looked like a lump of fat.that looked like a lump of fat.‘Perhaps I’ll find something tender,’ it thought,‘Perhaps I’ll find something tender,’ it thought,‘perhaps there’s something tasty.’‘perhaps there’s something tasty.’

But finding nothing tasty,But finding nothing tasty,the crow left that place.the crow left that place.Like the crow that pecked the stone,Like the crow that pecked the stone,

I leave Gotama disappointed.”I leave Gotama disappointed.”