Samyuktagama 2.217

Samyukta Āgama (2) 217

Bhikkhunī Saṃyutta Uppalavaṇṇā

Thus have I heard, once, the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī at the Jeta Grove in the Anāthapiṇḍika Park.

At that time one morning the nun Uppalavaṇṇā took her robes and her begging bowl and entered the town Sāvatthī to beg for food. Having finished her meal, she cleaned her bowl, gathered her seat for meditation. Having washed her feet, she went to the Andhavana forest, and sat upright under a tree, for the day’s abiding.

At that time King Māra thought: “The renunciant Gotama is staying at Sāvatthī at the Jeta Grove in the Anāthapiṇḍika Park. The nun Uppalavaṇṇā took her robes and her begging bowl and entered the town Sāvatthī to beg for food. Having finished her meal, she cleaned her bowl, gathered her seat, and went to the Andhavana forest. She is sitting upright under a tree, for the day’s abiding. I shall disturb her!”

Having thought thus he transformed himself into a young man, went to her place and spoke this verse:

   “Sitting under a Sāla tree, /
   ​beautiful like its blossoms;
   All alone bhikkhunī, /
   ​is it that you are you meditating?
   Without a companion, /
   ​aren’t you afraid of the ignorant?”

At that time Uppalavaṇṇā thought: “Who is this who wants to disturb me? What a deceiver! Is he a human or a non-human being?” She entered concentration and recognized that it was the Bad One. She spoke a verse:

   “A hundred thousand sly and deceitful rogues /
   ​could all do just as much as you.
   They could not move me even an inch, /
   ​therefore I stay alone and unafraid.”

At that time King Māra again spoke a verse:

   “I might hide myself /
   ​within your belly,
   Between your brows, /
   ​unseen by you.”

And the nun again replied with a verse:

   “My mind has attained self-mastery; /
   ​I have practised well the concentration that gives super-natural powers.
   Having cut off the great bondages, /
   ​I will never be frightened by you.

   I have cast aside all fetters, /
   ​have pulled out the root of the three taints of attachment, hate and ignorance.
   The roots of fear thus gone, /
   ​I am not afraid.

   I abide here, /
   ​I have no fear of you.
   Bring on your armies all, /
   ​I shall not be afraid.

   I have cut off all craving, /
   ​the darkness of ignorance destroyed.
   Having attained complete cessation, /
   ​I peacefully dwell in a state of purity.
   Therefore understand: /
   ​Bad One you are defeated.”

At that time the Bad One thought: “The nun Uppalavaṇṇā understands my mind well!” Depressed, dispirited, and ashamed he returned to his palace.