SN 5. Bhikkhunīsaṁyuttaṁ
The Thematic Discourses about Nuns
1. Āḷavikāsuttaṁ
The Discourse about Āḷavikā
162. Evaṁ me sutaṁ:
Thus I have heard:
ekaṁ samayaṁ Bhagavā Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati
at one time the Fortunate One was dwelling near Sāvatthī
Jetavane Anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.
at Anāthapiṇḍika’s grounds in Jeta’s Wood.
Atha kho Āḷavikā bhikkhunī, pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā,
Then the nun Āḷavikā, Comm:
pattacīvaram-ādāya, Sāvatthiṁ piṇḍāya pāvisi.
after picking up her bowl and robe, was entering Sāvatthī for alms.
Sāvatthiyaṁ piṇḍāya caritvā, pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkantā,
After walking for alms in Sāvatthī, and returning from the alms-round after the meal,
yena Andhavanaṁ tenupasaṅkami vivekatthinī.
she approached the Blind Man’s Wood Comm:
Atha kho Māro pāpimā
Then the Wicked Māra
Āḷavikāya bhikkhuniyā bhayaṁ chambhitattaṁ lomahaṁsaṁ uppādetukāmo,
desiring to give rise to fear, terror, and horror in the nun Āḷavikā,
vivekamhā cāvetukāmo, yena Āḷavikā bhikkhunī tenupasaṅkami,
desiring to drive her out of seclusion, approached the nun Āḷavikā,
upasaṅkamitvā Āḷavikaṁ bhikkhuniṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:
and after approaching he addressed the nun Āḷavikā with a verse:
“Natthi nissaraṇaṁ loke, kiṁ vivekena kāhasi?
“There is no escape Comm:
Bhuñjassu kāmaratiyo, māhu pacchānutāpinī.” ti
Enjoy the sensual delights, do not be remorseful hereafter.”
Atha kho Āḷavikāya bhikkhuniyā etad-ahosi:
Then it occurred to the nun Āḷavikā:
“Ko nu khvāyaṁ manusso vā amanusso vā gāthaṁ bhāsatī?” ti
“Who is this, a human or a non-human, speaking this verse?”
Atha kho Āḷavikāya bhikkhuniyā etad-ahosi:
Then it occurred to the nun Āḷavikā:
“Māro kho ayaṁ Pāpimā
“This is the Wicked Māra
mama bhayaṁ chambhitattaṁ lomahaṁsaṁ uppādetukāmo,
desiring to give rise to fear, terror, and horror in me,
vivekamhā cāvetukāmo gāthaṁ bhāsatī.” ti
desiring to drive me out of seclusion, who speaks this verse.”
Atha kho Āḷavikā bhikkhunī: Māro ayaṁ Pāpimā iti viditvā,
Then the nun Āḷavikā having understood: This is the Wicked Māra,
Māraṁ Pāpimantaṁ gāthāhi paccabhāsi:
replied with this verse to the Wicked Māra:
“Atthi nissaraṇaṁ loke, paññāya me suphussitaṁ,
“There is an escape from the world, which I have attained through wisdom, Comm:
Pamattabandhu Pāpima, na tvaṁ jānāsi taṁ padaṁ,
You do not know that state, Comm:
Sattisūlūpamā kāmā, khandhāsaṁ adhikuṭṭanā,
Sensual pleasures are like an axe, Comm:
Yaṁ tvaṁ kāmaratiṁ brūsi, arati mayha' sā ahū.” ti
That which you say is sensual delight, in that for me there is no delight.”
Atha kho Māro Pāpimā: “Jānāti maṁ Āḷavikā bhikkhunī!” ti
Then the Wicked Māra (thought): “The nun Āḷavikā knows me!”
dukkhī dummano tatthevantaradhāyī ti.
and pained and depressed he vanished right there.