The identical structure as SN 23.11, with "of Māra nature" replacing the bare "is Māra"
Length
Very short — the closing formula now elided
Northern parallel
Shares its structure with SN 23.11
Difficulty
Approachable — the grammatical shift rewards brief attention
Why this discourse
The direct companion to SN 23.11, asking not what "is" Māra but what is "of Māra nature" (māradhamma) — a subtle shift from a bare equation to a claim about inherent quality, answered with the identical content and the closing formula now compressed for the first time in this vagga.
Reading guide
A grammatical shift: identity to inherent nature
"They speak of 'Māra nature'. What is of Māra nature?" — where SN 23.11 asked simply "how is Māra defined," this discourse asks about māradhamma, something's own inherent nature or characteristic quality of being Māra-like, rather than a flat identity statement.
The identical answer, adapted to the new grammar
"Form is of Māra nature. Feeling, perception, choices, and consciousness are of Māra nature" — the same five aggregates, the same underlying content as SN 23.11, restated to fit this discourse's own slightly different grammatical frame.
The closing formula, elided for the first time
"Seeing this..." — where SN 23.11 spelled out the entire disillusionment-to-freedom chain, this discourse compresses it immediately, trusting the reader to supply what was just given in full one discourse earlier.
Setting the vagga's own compression rhythm
This discourse establishes the pattern the remaining ten discourses in this vagga will follow: only the opening question and bare answer given in full, with the standard closing formula elided throughout, since it was already spelled out completely at SN 23.11.
Key terms
māradhamma — of Māra nature — this discourse's own subject, a grammatical variant of SN 23.11's bare Māra-identification
dhamma — nature, quality, characteristic — the suffix marking this discourse's shift from identity to inherent quality
Māra — the personification of death and temptation — the shared subject with SN 23.11
peyyāla — an elision mark — used here for the first time in this vagga to compress the standard closing formula
nāparaṁ itthattāyā — "there is nothing further for this place" — the formula's own final declaration, now only implied
The text
The complete discourse as given in the source, with the closing formula elided for the first time in this vagga. Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0, SuttaCentral).
§1At Sāvatthī. Seated to one side, Venerable Rādha said to the Buddha: “Sir, they speak of ‘Māra nature’. What is of Māra nature?”
§2“Rādha, form is of Māra nature. Feeling, perception, choices, and consciousness are of Māra nature.
§3Seeing this … They understand: ‘… there is nothing further for this place.’”
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Self-check quiz
Ten questions. Click an answer to see immediate feedback. No score is recorded — this is for your own checking.
Question 1 of 10
What does this discourse ask about, compared to SN 23.11's own question?
Correct: A. A subtle shift from a flat equation to a claim about inherent characteristic.
Question 2 of 10
How does the Buddha answer this discourse's question?
Correct: A. The same underlying content, adapted to this discourse's own grammar.
Question 3 of 10
How is the closing formula presented in this discourse, compared to SN 23.11?
Correct: A. Since it was already spelled out completely one discourse earlier.
Question 4 of 10
What pattern does this discourse establish for the rest of the vagga?
Correct: A. Setting this vagga's own compression rhythm going forward.
Question 5 of 10
How many aggregates does this discourse's identification apply to?
Correct: A. Form, feeling, perception, choices, and consciousness.
Question 6 of 10
What is the relationship between this discourse and SN 23.11?
Correct: A. The same identification, restated to fit a grammatical variant of the question.
Question 7 of 10
Where is this discourse set?
Correct: A. Matching SN 23.11's own setting.
Question 8 of 10
What comes next in Dutiyamāravagga after this discourse?
Correct: A. Continuing this vagga's own cycle through characterizing terms.
Question 9 of 10
What does "dhamma" as a suffix mark in this discourse's title term?
Correct: A. Distinguishing māradhamma from SN 23.11's simple "is Māra" statement.
Question 10 of 10
Who asks the question in this discourse?
Correct: A. Continuing this saṃyutta's own central questioner.
