Upacala Sutta

Upacala

Translated from the Pali by Bhikkhu Bodhi

For free distribution only,
by arrangement with the Buddhist Publication Society

From Discourses of the Ancient Nuns (BL 143), translated from the Pali by Bhikkhu Bodhi (Kandy: Buddhist Publication Society, 1997).

Setting at Savatthi. Then, in the morning, the bhikkhuni Upacala dressed ... she sat down at the foot of a tree for the day's abiding.

Then Mara the Evil One approached the bhikkhuni Upacala and said to her: "Where do you wish to be reborn, bhikkhuni?"

"I do not wish to be reborn anywhere, friend."

"There are Tavatimsa and Yama devas,
And devatas of the Tusita realm,
Devas who take delight in creating,
And devas who exercise control.
Direct your mind there
And you'll experience delight."

"There are Tavatimsa and Yama devas,
And devatas of the Tusita realm,
Devas who take delight in creating,
And devas who exercise control.
They are still bound by sensual bondage,
They come again under Mara's control.
All the world is on fire,
All the world is burning,
All the world is ablaze,
All the world is quaking.
That which does not quake or blaze,
That to which worldlings do not resort,
Where there is no place for Mara:
That is where my mind delights."

Then Mara the Evil One, realizing, "The bhikkhuni Upacala knows me," sad and disappointed, disappeared right there.

Revised: 10 November 1999

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/samyutta/sn5-7b.html