Sutta Nipāta — Antologia de Discursos — 3.2 — Striving

1“During my time of resolute striving
back on the bank of the Nerañjara River,
I was meditating very hard
for the sake of sanctuary from the yoke.

2Namucī approached,
speaking words of kindness:
‘You’re thin, discolored,
on the verge of death.

3Death has a thousand parts of you,
one fraction is left to life.
Live, worthy sir! Life is better!
Living, you can make merits.

4While leading the spiritual life
and serving the sacred flame,
you can pile up abundant merit—
so what will striving do for you?

5Hard to walk is the path of striving,
hard to do, a hard challenge to win.’”
These are the verses Māra spoke
as he stood beside the Buddha.

6When Māra had spoken in this way,
the Buddha said this:
“O Wicked One, kinsman of the negligent,
you’re here for your own purpose.

7I have no need for
the slightest bit of merit.
Those with need for merit
are fit for Māra to address.

8I have faith and energy too,
and wisdom is found in me.
When I am so resolute,
why do you beg me to live?

9The rivers and streams
might be dried by the wind,
so why, when I am resolute,
should it not dry up my blood?

10And while the blood is drying up,
the bile and phlegm dry too.
And as my muscles waste away,
my mind grows more serene.
And all the stronger grow mindfulness
and wisdom and immersion.

11As I meditate like this,
having attained the supreme feeling,
my mind has no interest in sensual pleasures:
behold a being’s purity!

12Sensual pleasures are your first army,
the second is called discontent,
hunger and thirst are the third,
and the fourth is said to be craving.

13Your fifth is dullness and drowsiness,
the sixth is said to be cowardice,
your seventh is doubt,
contempt and obstinacy are your eighth.

14Profit, praise, and honor,
and misbegotten fame;
the extolling of oneself
while scorning others.

15This is your army, Namucī,
the strike force of the Dark One.
Only a hero can defeat it,
but in victory there lies bliss.

16Let me gird myself—
curse my life!
I’d rather die in battle
than live on in defeat.

17Here some ascetics and brahmins
are swallowed up, not to be seen again.
And they do not know the path
traveled by those true to their vows.

18Seeing Māra ready with his legions,
surrounded by his bannered forces,
I shall meet them in battle—
they’ll never make me retreat!

19That army of yours has never been beaten
by the world with all its gods.
Yet I shall smash it with wisdom,
like an unfired pot with a stone.

20Having brought my thoughts under control,
and established mindfulness well,
I shall wander from nation to nation,
guiding many disciples.

21Diligent and resolute,
following my instructions,
they will proceed despite your will,
to where there is no sorrow.”

22“For seven years I followed
step by step behind the Blessed One.
I found no vulnerability
in the mindful Awakened One.

23A crow once circled a stone
that looked like a lump of fat.
‘Perhaps I’ll find something tender,’ it thought,
‘perhaps there’s something tasty.’

24But finding nothing tasty,
the crow left that place.
Like the crow that pecked the stone,
I leave Gotama disappointed.”

25So stricken with sorrow
that his harp dropped from his armpit,
that spirit, downcast,
vanished right there.