Somā
Translation of BZA 215. First version published in Buddhist Studies
Review vol. 23-1 (2006).
Thus have I heard, once, the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī at the Jeta Grove in
the Anāthapiṇḍika Park.
At that time the nun Somā took her robes and her begging bowl and entered
Sāvatthī to beg for food. Having finished her meal, she cleaned her bowl,
gathered her seat [for meditation] and went to the Andhavana forest [to
meditate].
King Māra the Bad thought: “The nun Somā took her robes and her begging bowl and
entered Sāvatthī to beg for food. Having finished her meal, she has cleaned her
bowl, and gathered her seat [for meditation] and is now on her way to the
Andhavana forest [to meditate].” Upon this the Bad One changed into a Brahmin,
stood at the wayside and said: “My lady , where are you going?” The nun
answered: “I am going to a secluded place.” Thereupon the Bad One spoke a verse:
The stage which seers attain // that state is difficult to reach
With your inferior intelligence // you cannot attain that state
Thereupon the nun thought: “Is this a human or a non-human being, who wants to
disturb me?” She entered concentration and, using her insight , she recognized
that it was the Bad One. She spoke a verse:
The mark of womanhood has nothing to do with it // if only the mind practices
meditative concentration
And perceives the highest Dhamma; // as long as there are the marks of man-
and womanhood
One can say that women // are not apt for the Dhamma;
Once the marks of man- and womanhood are no more // from where should
distinctions arise
[I have] cut off all craving // the darkness of ignorance destroyed
Pleasure causes hundredfold suffering, // pleasure is the root of all
suffering.
[I have] cut off all craving // the darkness of ignorance destroyed
Having reached and witnessed complete cessation // [I] dwell in a state of
purity
Therefore understand // Bad One you are defeated
At that time the Bad One thought: “The nun Somā knows my mind well!” Depressed,
dispirited, and ashamed he returned to his palace.
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時有蘇摩比丘尼,住舍衛國王園精舍比丘尼眾中,晨朝著衣持鉢,入舍衛城乞食。食已,還精舍,舉衣鉢,洗足畢,持尼師壇,著右肩上,至安陀林坐禪。時魔波旬作是念:
「今沙門瞿曇住舍衛國祇樹給孤獨園。有蘇摩比丘尼,住舍衛國王園精舍比丘尼眾中,晨朝著衣持鉢,入舍衛城乞食。食已,還精舍,舉衣鉢,洗足畢,持尼師檀,著右肩上,入安陀林坐禪。我今當往,為作留難!」
即化作年少,容貌端正,往至蘇摩比丘尼所,問言:
「阿姨!欲至何所?」
答言:
「賢者!欲至遠離處去。」
時魔波旬即說偈言:
「仙人所住處 是處甚難得
非彼二指智 能得到彼處」
時蘇摩比丘尼作是念:
「此是何等,欲恐怖我?為人,為非人,為姦狡人?」
作此思惟已,決定智生,知是惡魔來欲嬈亂,即說偈言:
「心入於正受 女形復何為
智或若生已 逮得無上法
若於男女想 心不得俱離
彼即隨魔說 汝應往語彼
離於一切苦 捨一切闇冥
逮得滅盡證 安住諸漏盡
覺知汝惡魔 即自磨滅去」
時魔波旬作是念:
「蘇摩比丘尼已知我心!」
內懷憂悔,即沒不現。
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