Reading guide
A named individual, tracked across two attempts
Unlike this saṃyutta's typical single-encounter structure, this discourse follows one specific mendicant through a repeated event, letting readers watch not just an outcome but a development — from reporting to the teacher to answering independently.
The same trick, reused on a different target
The earth-shattering noise is identical to Māra's tactic against the whole community at SN 4.17, now redeployed against a single meditating disciple — confirming this particular illusion as one of Māra's standard, repeatable tools rather than a one-time invention.
The Buddha's first response: send him back, not fight for him
After the first disturbance, the Buddha does not confront Māra on Samiddhi's behalf; he simply identifies the trick and instructs Samiddhi to return to the same spot and meditate again — treating the disturbance as something for the disciple himself to work through, not a battle for the teacher to fight.
A second attempt, met without any report at all
The discourse's structure makes the shift explicit: the same private thought recurs, the same noise recurs, but this time Samiddhi addresses Māra directly in verse himself, without first returning to the Buddha — the training from the first encounter visibly applied independently.
A modified refrain marking this achievement
Māra's stock closing thought elsewhere in this saṃyutta is ‘the Buddha knows me’; here it becomes ‘the mendicant Samiddhi knows me’ — a small but deliberate variation in the collection's own formula, explicitly crediting an ordinary disciple with the same recognition that elsewhere belongs only to the Buddha.
Key terms
The text
§1At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Sakyans near Silāvatī. Now at that time Venerable Samiddhi was meditating not far from the Buddha, diligent, keen, and resolute. Then as Venerable Samiddhi was in private retreat this thought came to his mind, “I’m so fortunate, so very fortunate, to have a teacher who is a perfected one, a fully awakened Buddha! I’m so fortunate, so very fortunate, to have gone forth in a teaching and training so well explained! I’m so fortunate, so very fortunate, to have spiritual companions who are ethical and of good character.”
§2And then Māra the Wicked, knowing Samiddhi’s train of thought, went up to him and made a terrifyingly loud noise close by him. It seemed as if the earth was shattering.
§3Then Samiddhi went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and told him what had happened. The Buddha said,
§4“Samiddhi, that’s not the earth shattering. That’s Māra the Wicked come to pull the wool over your eyes! Go back to that same place, Samiddhi, and meditate, diligent, keen, and resolute.” “Yes, sir,” replied Samiddhi. He got up from his seat, bowed, and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right, before leaving.
§5And for a second time Samiddhi was meditating in that same place, diligent, ardent, and resolute. And for a second time he had the same thought … and Māra made an earth-shattering noise.
§6Then Samiddhi addressed Māra the Wicked One in verse:
§7“I went forth out of faith from the lay life to homelessness. My mindfulness and wisdom are mature, my mind is serene in immersion. Make whatever illusions you want, it won’t bother me.”
§8Then Māra the Wicked, thinking, “The mendicant Samiddhi knows me!” miserable and sad, vanished right there.
Self-check quiz
Ten questions. Click an answer to see immediate feedback. No score is recorded — this is for your own checking.