Uppalavaṇṇā
Translation of BZA 217. 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 one morning the nun Uppalavaṇṇā took her robes and her begging bowl
and entered the town [Sāvatthī] to beg for food. Having finished her meal, she
cleaned her bowl, gathered her seat [for meditation]. Having washed her feet,
she went to the Andhavana forest, and sat uprightly under a tree, abiding in
[jhāna] meditation.
At that time King Māra thought: “The renunciant Gotama is staying at Sāvatthī at
the Jeta Grove in the Anāthapiṇḍika Park. The nun Uppalavaṇṇā took her robes and
her begging bowl and entered the town [Sāvatthī] to beg for food. Having
finished her meal, she cleaned her bowl, gathered her seat, and went to the
Andhavana forest. She is sitting uprightly under a tree, abiding in [jhāna]
meditation. I shall disturb her!”
Having thought thus he changed into a young man, went to her place and spoke this
verse:
Sitting under a Sāla tree // beautiful like its blossoms
All alone bhikkhunī, // is it that you are you meditating?
Without a companion // aren’t you afraid of the ignorant?
At that time Uppalavaṇṇā thought: “Who is this who wants to disturb me? What a
cheat! Is he a human or a non-human being?” She entered concentration and
recognized that it was the Bad One. She spoke a verse:
A hundred thousand lustrous bogus rogues // could all do just as much as you
They could not move me even an inch // therefore I stay alone and
unafraid
At that time King Māra again spoke a verse:
I might hide myself // within your belly
Between your brows // unseen by you
And the nun again replied with a verse:
My mind has attained self-mastery // I have well practiced the concentration
that gives super-natural powers
Having cut off the great bondages // I will never be frightened by you
I have cast aside all fetters // have pulled out the root of the three taints
[of desire, hate and ignorance]
The roots of fear thus gone // I am not afraid
I abide here // have no fear of you
Bring on your armies all // I shall not be afraid
[I have] cut off all craving // the darkness of ignorance destroyed
Having reached complete cessation // [I] peacefully dwell in a state of
purity
Therefore understand // Bad One you are defeated
At that time the Bad One thought: “The nun Uppalavaṇṇā understands my mind well!”
Depressed, dispirited, and ashamed he returned to his palace.
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時有優鉢羅色比丘尼，住舍衛國王園比丘尼眾中，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，著肩上，入安陀林，坐一樹下，入晝正受。時魔波旬作是念：
「今沙門瞿曇住舍衛國祇樹給孤獨園。優鉢羅色比丘尼住舍衛國王園比丘尼眾中，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，著肩上，入安陀林，坐一樹下，入晝正受。我今當往，為作留難！」
即化作年少，容貌端正，至優鉢羅色比丘尼所，而說偈言：
「妙華堅固樹 依止其樹下
獨一無等侶 不畏惡人耶」
時優鉢羅色比丘尼作是念：
「為何等人，欲恐怖我？為是人，為非人，為姦狡人？」
如是思惟，即得覺知：
「必是惡魔波旬欲亂我耳！」
即說偈言：
「設使有百千 皆是姦狡人
如汝等惡魔 來至我所者
不能動毛髮 不畏汝惡魔」
魔復說偈言：
「我今入汝腹 住於內藏中
或住兩眉間 汝不能見我」
時優鉢羅色比丘尼復說偈言：
「我心有大力 善修習神通
大縛已解脫 不畏汝惡魔
我已吐三垢 恐怖之根本
住於不恐地 不畏於魔軍
於一切愛喜 離一切闇冥
已證於寂滅 安住諸漏盡
覺知汝惡魔 自當消滅去」
時魔波旬作是念：
「優鉢羅色比丘尼已知我心！」
內懷憂愁，即沒不現。
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