sn.4.13 Saṁyutta Nikāya (Linked Discourses)

The Splinter

Thus have I heard. On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Rajagaha in the Maddakucchi Deer Park. Now on that occasion the Blessed One’s foot had been cut by a stone splinter. Severe pains assailed the Blessed One—bodily feelings that were painful, racking, sharp, piercing, harrowing, disagreeable. But the Blessed One endured them, mindful and clearly comprehending, without becoming distressed. Then the Blessed One had his outer robe folded in four, and he lay down on his right side in the lion posture with one leg overlapping the other, mindful and clearly comprehending.

Then Mara the Evil One approached the Blessed One and addressed him in verse:

“Do you lie down in a daze or drunk on poetry?
Don’t you have sufficient goals to meet?
Alone in a secluded lodging
Why do you sleep with a drowsy face?”

The Blessed One:

“I do not lie in a daze or drunk on poetry;
Having reached the goal, I am rid of sorrow.
Alone in a secluded lodging
I lie down full of compassion for all beings.

“Even those with a dart stuck in the breast
Piercing their heart moment by moment—
Even these here, stricken, get to sleep;
So why should I not get to sleep
When my dart has been drawn out?

“I do not lie awake in dread,
Nor am I afraid to sleep.
The nights and days do not afflict me,
I see for myself no decline in the world.
Therefore I can sleep in peace,
Full of compassion for all beings.”

Then Mara the Evil One … disappeared right there.

- Translator: Bhikkhu Bodhi

- Editor: Blake Walsh

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A Splinter

So I have heard.
At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha in the Maddakucchi deer park.
Now at that time the Buddha’s foot had been cut by a splinter.
The Buddha was stricken by harrowing pains; physical feelings that were painful, sharp, severe, acute, unpleasant, and disagreeable.
But he endured unbothered, with mindfulness and situational awareness.
And then he spread out his outer robe folded in four and laid down in the lion’s posture—on the right side, placing one foot on top of the other—mindful and aware.
Then Māra the Wicked went up to the Buddha and addressed him in verse:
“Are you feeble that you lie down? Or are you drunk on poetry?
Don’t you have all that you need?
Alone in a secluded lodging,
why this sleeping, sleepyhead?”
“I’m not feeble that I lie down, nor am I drunk on poetry.
Having reached the goal, I’m rid of sorrow.
Alone in a secluded lodging,
I lie down full of compassion for all living creatures.
Even those with a dart stuck in the breast,
piercing the heart again and again,
are able to get some sleep.
So why not I, whose dart is drawn out?
I don’t lie awake tense, nor do I fear to sleep.
The days and nights don’t disturb me,
as I see no decline for myself in the world.
That’s why I lie down full of compassion for all living creatures.”
Then Māra the Wicked, thinking, “The Buddha knows me! The Holy One knows me!” miserable and sad, vanished right there.