Buddhist Dhammapadha How Mara tried to frighten young Rahula

Chapter XXIV - TANHA VAGGA - Craving

HE WHO IS FREE FROM CRAVING IS IN HIS FINAL LIFE

HE WHO IS FREE FROM CRAVING IS IN HIS FINAL LIFE

Nitthangato asantasi vita tanho anangano
Acchindi bhava sallani antimo'yam samussayo. [351]

THE NON-ATTACHED PERSON IS A GREAT SAGE

Vitatanho anadano nirutti pada kovido
Akkharanam sannipatam janna pubbaparani ca
Sa ve antima sariro maha panno maha puriso'ti vuccati. [352]

He who has reached the goal, is fearless, is without craving, is passionless, has cut off the thorns of life. This is his final body. [351]

He who is free from craving and from attachment, who is skilled in the knowledge of the significance of terms,¹ who knows the grouping of letters and their sequence is indeed called 'one who has lived his last, a man of great wisdom, a great man'. [352]

XXIV: 08 How Mara tried to frighten young Rahula

On one occasion, a large number of bhikkhus arrived at the Jetavana monastery. To put up the visiting bhikkhus, Samanera Rahula had to go and sleep near the door, just outside the chamber of the Buddha. Mara wanting to annoy the Buddha through his son Rahula, took the form of an elephant and encircling the youth's head with his trunk made an alarming noise hoping to frighten him. But Rahula was unmoved. The Buddha from his chamber knew what was happening, and said, 'O wicked Mara! Even a thousand such as you would not be able to frighten my son. My son has no fear, he is free from craving, he is vigilant, he is wise.'

Hearing these words, Mara realised that the Buddha knew his tricks and instantly disappeared

Notes:

Niruttipadakovido - versed in the four kinds of analytical knowledge (patisambhida) namely, meaning (attha), text (dhamma), etymology (nirutti), and understanding (patibhana).