sn.4.11 Saṁyutta Nikāya (Linked Discourses)
The Boulder
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Rajagaha on Mount Vulture Peak. Now on that occasion the Blessed One was sitting out in the open in the thick darkness of the night while it was drizzling. Then Mara the Evil One, wishing to arouse fear, trepidation, and terror in the Blessed One, shattered a number of huge boulders not far away from him.
Then the Blessed One, having understood, “This is Mara the Evil One,” addressed Mara the Evil One in verse:
“Even if you make this Vulture Peak
Quake all over in its entirety,
The enlightened are not perturbed,
For they are are fully liberated.”
Then Mara the Evil One, realizing, “The Blessed One knows me, the Fortunate One knows me,” sad and disappointed, disappeared right there.
- Translator: Bhikkhu Bodhi
- Editor: Blake Walsh
Boulders
At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha, on the Vulture’s Peak Mountain.
Now at that time the Buddha was meditating in the open during the dark of night, while a gentle rain drizzled down.
Then Māra the Wicked, wanting to make the Buddha feel fear, terror, and goosebumps, approached him, and crushed some large boulders close by him.
Then the Buddha, knowing that this was Māra the Wicked, addressed him in verse:
“Even if you shake
this entire Vulture’s Peak,
the rightly released,
the awakened, are unshaken.”
Then Māra the Wicked, thinking, “The Buddha knows me! The Holy One knows me!” miserable and sad, vanished right there.
