Majjhima Nikaya - Maratajjhaniya Sutta

50. Maratajjhaniya Sutta - English Majjhima Nikàya I
5. 10. Màratajjhaniyasuttaü
(50) Frightening the Evil One

I heard thus.
At one time venerable Mahàmoggallàna was living in the Bhagga country, in the
deer park among the Suüsunàra peaks in the Bhesakalà forest. At that time
venerable Mahàmoggallàna was walking in the open. Death the Evil One entered
venerable Mahàmoggallàna's stomach through the groins Then it occurred to
venerable Mahàmoggallàna, why is my stomach so heavy, as though in advanced
pregnancy. Then venerable Mahàmoggallàna stepped out of the walking meditation
and entered the monastery and sat on the seat prepared. Seated he directed his
attention inside. When attending internally he saw the Evil One in the stomach
entered through the groins, and addressed him: Evil One get out! Do not worry
the Thus Gone One and the disciples of the Thus Gone One. It will be for your
unpleasantness for a long time. Even his Teacher would not know me so quickly,
how could his disciple know me so quickly. Evil One I know you thinking, He does
not know me You are the Evil One. I knowing and seeing you address. Get out Evil
One! Do not worry the Thus Gone One. Do not worry the disciples of the Thus Gone
One. It will be for your unpleasantness for a long time . Even if it was his
Teacher, he would not know me so quickly. How could his pupil know me so quickly
Evil One did it occur to you, even his teacher would not know me so quickly, how
could the pupil know me so quickly? Then it occurred to Death the Evil One, This
recluse knows me and sees me and says Get out! Evil One. Do not worry the Thus
Gone One and do not worry the disciples of the Thus Gone One. It will be for
your unpleasantness for a long time. Then Death the Evil One came out of the
mouth and got stuck in the throat.
Venerable Mahàmoggallàna saw the Evil One stuck in the throat and said, I see
you there too. You are stuck in the throat. In the past there was an Evil One
named Dåsi. To me there was a sister named Kàli. You were her son. Then you were
my nephew. It was at the time of the perfect rightfully enlightened Blessed One
Kakusanda's time. To the perfect rightfully Enlightened One, Kakusanada, there
were two chief disciples named Vidura and Sa¤jãva. Out of the disciples of the
Enlightened One Kakusanda, there wasn't anyone comparable to venerable Vidura in
teaching. He was so sharp, with that meaning he was given the name Vidura. As
for venerable Sa¤jãva, gone to the forest, to the root of a tree or to an empty
house, would without difficulty attain the cessation of peceptions and feelings.
It happended that one day venerable Sa¤jãva attained to the cessation of
perceptions and feelings. Then the cowherds, cattle-herds, farmers and wayfarers
saw venerable Sa~jãva attained to the cessation of perceptions and feelings, at
the root of a certain tree. Then it occurred to them, it is wonderful, and
surprising this recluse has fulfilled time seated. Then they collected grass,
sticks, cow dung and dirt on top of him and set fire to it, and went away. Then
venerable Sa¤jãva got up from the cessation of perceptions and feelings at the
end of that night. Cleaning up his bowl and robes and putting on robes and
taking bowl and robes entered that village for alms. The cowherds, cattleherds,
farmers and wayfarers seeing venerable Sa¤jãva going for alms were surprised and
said, this recluse had fulfilled time seated and now he has got up from it, he
is alive again. Thus the name sa¤jãva came to him
Then to the Evil One Dåsi it occurred thus: I do not know the comings and goings
[1] of these virtuous bhikkhus, what if I took possession of the brahmin
householders and scolded and abused the virtuous bhikkhus. Then if we arouse the
bhikkhus, we would get a chance to change the minds of these bhikkhus. [2] Then
the Evil One Dåsi took possession of the brahmin householders and scolded the
bhikkhus and worried them: These are recluse shavellings, menials, wicked ones,
born from the foot of Brahma, saying we concentrate, muse with drooping heads
and face turned down. Reflect and waste, like owls waiting among branches for
mice. These recluse shavellings, menials, wicked ones, born from the foot of
Brahma, saying we concentrate, muse with drooping heads and face turned down.
Reflect and waste, like jackals on the bank of the river waiting for fish. These
recluse shavellings, menials, wicked ones, born from the foot of Brahma saying
we concentrate muse with drooping heads and face turned down. Reflect and waste,
like a cat waiting for rats on a heap of rubbish. These recluse shavellings,
menials, wicked ones, born from the foot of Brahma, saying we concentrate muse
with drooping heads and face turned down. Reflect and waste, like a donkey
released from its burden standing in a heap of rubbish. O! Evil One, many humans
who died at that time, were born in loss, in hell.
Then the perfect and rightfully enlightened, Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus:
Bhikkhus, the brahmin householders are possessed by the Evil One Dåsi. If they
scold and worry these bhikkhus we will get a chance, when the minds of these
bhikkhus change. Come bhikkhus, abide with the thought of loving kindness
pervading one direction, so too the second, the third, the fourth, above, below
and across. In all circumstances, for all purposes, and towards all, abide with
that thought of loving kindness developed and grown great without anger. Abide
with the thought of compassion. Abide with the thought of intrinsic joy. Abide
with the thought of equanimity pervading one direction, so too the second, the
third, the fourth, above, below, and across. In all circumstances, for all
purposes and towards all abide with the thought of equanimity developed and
grown great without anger. Evil One, those bhikkhus advised by the enlightened
one Kakusanda, gone to the forest, to the root of a tree, or to an empty house,
abode with the thought of loving kindness pervading one direction, so too the
second, the third, the fourth, above, below and across. In all circumstances,
for all purposes, and towards all, abode with that thought of loving kindness
developed and grown great without anger. Abode with the thought of compassion.
Abode with the thought of intrinsic joy. Abode with the thought of equanimity
pervading one direction, so too the second, the third, the fourth, above, below,
and across. In all circumstances, for all purposes and towards all, abode with
the thought of equanimity developed and grown great without anger.
Then it occurred to Dåsi the Evil One, doing this the goings and comings of the
virtuous bhikkhus, are not known. What if I possessed the minds of these brahmin
householders and made them revere, honour and worship these virtuous bhikkhus.
Then we will get a chance, when the minds of these bhikkhus change. Come,
householders, revere, honour, and worship these virtuous bhikkhus. So the
brahmin householders revered, honoured, and worshipped the virtuous bhikkhus.
Most of the humans who died at that time went to increase, were born in heaven.
Then O! Evil one, the perfect, rightfully enlightened Kakusanda Blessed One,
addressed the bhikkhus. Bhikkhus, the brahmin householders are possessed by the
Evil One Dåsi. He says, come, revere, honour and worship these virtuous
bhikkhus. Then we will get a chance, when the minds of these bhikkhus change
Therefore bhikkhus abide developing loathesomeness of the body, loathesomeness
of supports, the perception of detachment from the whole world. Seeing
impermanence in all determinations. Then those bhikkhus, thus advised by the
perfect rightfully enlightened Kakusanda Blessed One gone to the forest, to the
root of a tree or to an empty house would abide developing loathesomeness of the
body, loathesomeness of supports, the perception of detachment from the whole
world and seeing impermanence in all determinations.
Then the perfect rightfully enlightened Kakusanda Blessed One, putting on robes
in the morning and taking bowl and robes entered the village for alms with
venerable Vidura as second recluse. Then Dåsi the Evil One taking possession of
a certain boy taking a stone hit on the head of Venerable Vidura. The head split
and with blood streaming he followed close behind. The perfect rightfully
enlightened Kakusanda Blessed One looked at him with the elephant's look
thinking this Màra Dåsi should know his limits, and together with that look he
was born in the Great Hell. This hell has three names; The sphere of the six
contacts, pulled along with iron spikes, giver of internal pain. Then I
approached the waderers of that hell and asked, good sirs, from when were your
hearts pierced with spikes. They do not know it, and experience it since a
thousand years. O! Evil One, I have experience of suffering in that hell for a
hundred thousand years. For ten thousand years I suffered in that hell
prominently suffering with a special pain. Evil One in that hell I had the body
of a human and the head of a fish.
How was the hell that Dåsi suffered,
Harming the disciple Vidhura and the brahmin Kakusanda.
A hundred iron spikes pierced the heart giving internal pain,
Dåsi suffered in such a hell, harming the disciple Vidhura and
The brahmin Kakusanda
If he knew this much, this is a disciple of the enlightened one,
Hurting such a bhikkhu I would go to dark unpleasantness.
In the middle is a mansion which stands for a world cycle
It shines like the lapis gem
Nymphs dance there decked in various colours.
If he knew this much, this is a disciple of the enlightened one,
Hurting such a bhikkhu would go to dark unpleasantness
He who was chosen by the enlightened one, out of the community,
To shake the palace of Migàra's mother with the toe.
If he knew this much, this is a disciple of the enlightened one,
Hurting such a bhikkhu I would go to dark unpleasantness
He shook the Vejanta palace with his toe,
Full of super normal powers aroused consternation in the gods.
If he knew this much, this is a disciple of the enlightened one,
Hurting such a bhikkhu, I would go to dark unpleasantness,
At the Vejanta palace, he questioned Sakka
Venerable one do you know the release with the destruction of craving.
To him Sakka explained, when the question was asked
The disciple of the enlightened one who could do this much
If he knew this much, this is a disciple of the enlightened one,
Hurting such a bhikkhu, I would go to dark unpleasantness.
He questioned, Brahma fearlessly in the Sudhamma assembly,
Venerable one do you maintain that view, you had earlier,
That we see you, enjoying the pleasures of the brahma world.
Then Brahma explained in stages, that he does not maintain that view
Although I enjoy the pleasures of Brahma
I know it is a mistake to think it is permanent and eternal.
If he knew this much, this is a disciple of the enlightened one,
Hurting such a bhikkhu, I would go to dark unpleasantness
He touched the peak of Mahàmeru attained to voidity
Touched the forests of Pubbavidheha and the people sleeping there
If he knew this much, this is a disciple of the enlightened one,
Hurting such a bhikkhu, I would go to dark unpleasantness.
Fire does not think I will not burn the fool,
It burns the fool and also the wrong doer
Thus Evil One, you have hurt the Thus Gone One,
By oneself is one burnt, as the fool who has touched fire.
Evil One you have accumulated demerit, hurting the Thus Gone One
Evil One do you think, results of demerit will not come to me
Evil One, the doer accumulates demerit throughout a long time,
Evil One, go away from the enlightened one, do not worry the bhikkhu.
Thus the Evil One did not hurt the bhikkhu in the Bhesakalà forest.
The displeased demon, vansihed from there.



[1] Does not know the goings and comings (n'eva jànàmi àgati, m và gatiü và).
This is to know the desires, wishes, and intentions, A person's thoughts and
thought processes would be according to his desires, wishes, and intentions
[2] If we arouse the bhikkhus, we would get a chance to change the minds of
these bhikkhus (siyà cittassa a¤¤athattaü yathà taü Dåsi màro labhetha
otaranti). To change the mind is to arouse feelings, so that Death could wield
power over their minds.