Mārasaṁyutta 12

Linked Discourses 4.12

2. Rule

Lion

1 At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Now, at that time the Buddha was teaching Dhamma, surrounded by a large assembly.

2 Then Māra thought, “The ascetic Gotama is teaching Dhamma, surrounded by a large assembly. Why don’t I go and pull the wool over their eyes?”

Then Māra the Wicked went up to the Buddha and addressed him in verse:

3 “Why now do you roar like a lion?

You’re so self-assured in the assembly!

For there is someone who’ll wrestle with you,

so why do you imagine you’re the victor?”

4 “The great heroes they roar,

self-assured in the assemblies.

The Realized One, attained to power,

has crossed over clinging to the world.”

5 Then Māra the Wicked, thinking, “The Buddha knows me! The Holy One knows me!” miserable and sad, vanished right there.