SN 4.18

Piṇḍasutta

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā magadhesu viharati pañcasālāyaṁ brāhmaṇagāme. Tena kho pana samayena pañcasālāyaṁ brāhmaṇagāme kumārikānaṁ pāhunakāni bhavanti. Atha kho bhagavā pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya pañcasālaṁ brāhmaṇagāmaṁ piṇḍāya pāvisi. Tena kho pana samayena pañcasāleyyakā brāhmaṇagahapatikā mārena pāpimatā anvāviṭṭhā bhavanti: “mā samaṇo gotamo piṇḍamalatthā”ti.

Alms Food

At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Magadhans near the brahmin village of Pañcasālā. Now at that time in Pañcasālā the young maidens were occupied with guests. Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Pañcasālā for alms. Now at that time Māra had possessed the brahmins and householders of Pañcasālā, so that they thought, “Don’t let the ascetic Gotama get any alms!”

Atha kho bhagavā yathādhotena pattena pañcasālaṁ brāhmaṇagāmaṁ piṇḍāya pāvisi tathādhotena pattena paṭikkami. Atha kho māro pāpimā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “api tvaṁ, samaṇa, piṇḍamalatthā”ti? “Tathā nu tvaṁ, pāpima, akāsi yathāhaṁ piṇḍaṁ na labheyyan”ti. “Tena hi, bhante, bhagavā dutiyampi pañcasālaṁ brāhmaṇagāmaṁ piṇḍāya pavisatu. Tathāhaṁ karissāmi yathā bhagavā piṇḍaṁ lacchatī”ti.

Then the Buddha left the village with his bowl as clean-washed as it was when he entered for alms. Then Māra the Wicked went up to the Buddha and said to him, “Well, ascetic, did you get any alms?” “Wicked One, did you make sure I didn’t get any alms?” “Well then, sir, let the Buddha enter Pañcasālā a second time for alms. I’ll make sure you get alms.”

“Apuññaṁ pasavi māro, āsajja naṁ tathāgataṁ; Kiṁ nu maññasi pāpima, na me pāpaṁ vipaccati.

“Māra has produced wickedness in attacking the Realized One. Wicked One, do you imagine that your wickedness won’t bear fruit?

Susukhaṁ vata jīvāma, yesaṁ no natthi kiñcanaṁ; Pītibhakkhā bhavissāma, devā ābhassarā yathā”ti.

Let us live so very happily, we who have nothing. We shall feed on rapture, like the gods of sublime luminosity.”

Atha kho māro pāpimā “jānāti maṁ bhagavā, jānāti maṁ sugato”ti dukkhī dummano tatthevantaradhāyīti.

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