Saṃyutta Nikāya
I. Sagatha Vagga
5. Bhikkhuni Saṃyutta

Sutta 8

Sisupacala Suttaṃ

Sister Sisupacala

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

 

---

 

[8.1][pts][bps] Near Sāvatthī.

Then, early in the morning, Sisupacala 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 from solitude, approached her and said, "Whose philosophy do you approve of, nun?"

"I don't approve of anyone's philosophy, my friend."

[Māra:]

For whose sake
    have you shaved your head?
You look like a contemplative
but don't approve of a philosophy,
so why are you wandering here
    confused?

[Sister Sisupacala:]

Outside philosophers place
their confidence in views.
I don't approve
    of their teaching.
They're not adept
    in the Dhamma.
    But there is
the Awakened One,
born in the Sakyan clan,
a person without peer:
    all-conquering,
    Māra's subduer,
everywhere undefeated,
everywhere freed, independent;
        endowed with an Eye
    all-seeing, reaching the end of
    all kamma —
with the ending of acquisitions,
    released.
He, that Blessed One,
    is my teacher.
It's in his Dhamma
    that I delight.

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