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Somā

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.