The Samyutta Nikaya
The Grouped Discourses
Samyutta Nikaya V.2
Soma Sutta
Soma
Translated from the Pali by Bhikkhu Bodhi.
Setting at Savatthi. Then, in the morning, the bhikkhuni Soma dressed and,
taking bowl and robe, entered Savatthi for alms. When she had walked for
alms in Savatthi and had returned from her alms round, after her meal she
went to the Blind Men's Grove for the day's abiding. Having plunged into
the Blind Men's Grove, she sat down at the foot of a tree for the day's
abiding.
Then Mara the Evil One, desiring to arouse fear, trepidation, and
terror in the bhikkhuni Soma, desiring to make her fall away from
concentration, approached her and addressed her in verse:
"That state so hard to achieve
Which is to be attained by the seers,
Can't be attained by a woman
With her two-fingered wisdom."
Then it occurred to the bhikkhuni Soma: "Now who is this that
recited the verse -- a human being or a non-human being?" Then it
occurred to her: "This is Mara the Evil One, who has recited the
verse desiring to arouse fear, trepidation, and terror in me, desiring to
make me fall away from concentration."
Then the bhikkhuni Soma, having understood, "This is Mara the Evil
One," replied to him in verses:
"What does womanhood matter at all
When the mind is concentrated well,
When knowledge flows on steadily
As one sees correctly into Dhamma.
One to whom it might occur,
'I'm a woman' or 'I'm a man'
Or 'I'm anything at all' --
Is fit for Mara to address."
Then Mara the Evil One, realizing, "The bhikkhuni Soma knows
me," sad and disappointed, disappeared right there.
Read an alternate translation by
Thanissaro Bhikkhu
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