Saṃyutta Nikāya
I. Sagatha Vagga
5. Bhikkhuni Saṃyutta

Sutta 4

Vijaya Sutta

Sister Vijaya

Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
Provenance, terms and conditons

 

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[4.1][pts][bps] Near Sāvatthī.

Then, early in the morning, Vijaya the nun put on her robes and, taking her bowl and outer robe, went into Sāvatthi for alms. When she had gone for alms in Sāvatthi and had returned from her alms round, after her meal she went to the Grove of the Blind to spend the day. Having gone deep into the Grove of the Blind, she sat down at the foot of a tree for the day's abiding.

Then Māra the Evil One, wanting to arouse fear, horripilation, and terror in her, wanting to make her fall away from concentration, approached her and addressed her in verse:

You, a beautiful young woman.
    I, a young man.
Come, my lady,
let's enjoy ourselves
    to the music of a five-piece band.

Then the thought occurred to Vijaya the nun: "Now who has recited this verse — a human being or a non-human one?" Then it occurred to her: "This is Māra the Evil One, who has recited this verse wanting to arouse fear, horripilation, and terror in me, wanting to make me fall away from concentration."

Then, having understood that "This is Māra the Evil One," she replied to him in verses:

Lovely sights, sounds,
smells, tastes,
and tactile sensations
    I leave to
    you, Māra.
        I
    have no need
    for them.
I'm disgusted, ashamed
of this putrid body —
disintegrating, dissolving.
    Sensual craving
    is rooted out.
Beings who have come to form,
and those with a share in the formless,
and the peaceful attainments:
    their darkness
    is completely destroyed.

Then Māra the Evil One — sad and dejected at realizing, "Vijaya the nun knows me" — vanished right there.