Chapter 8
(7) ‚Unlike this Prince Siddhattha, I have not fulfilled the Perfection of Truthfulness in
my former existences. On this account, I cannot be the equal of the Prince.‛ With
this thought Mara drew the seventh line.
(8) ‚Unlike this Prince Siddhattha, I have not fulfilled the Perfection of Resolution in my
former existences. On this account, I cannot be the equal of the Prince.‛ With this
thought Mara drew the eighth line.
(9) ‚Unlike this Prince Siddhattha, I have not fulfilled the Perfection of Loving-kindness
in my former existences. On this account, I cannot be the equal of the Prince.‛ With
this thought Mara drew the ninth line.
(10) ‚Unlike this Prince Siddhattha, I have not fulfilled the Perfection of Equanimity in
my former existences. On this account, I cannot be the equal of the Prince.‛ With
this thought Mara drew the tenth line.
(11) ‚Unlike this Prince Siddhattha, I have not fulfilled the Ten Perfections in my former
existences to acquire the knowledge of thoughts and intentions of others (
indriya-
paropariyatti-ÒÈÓa
) which is not common to many. On this account, I cannot be the
equal of the Prince.‛ With this thought MÈra drew the eleventh line.
(12) ‚Unlike this Prince Siddhattha, I have not fulfilled the Ten Perfections in my former
existences to acquire the knowledge of inclinations and disposition of others
(
ÈsayÈnusaya-ÒaÓa
) which is not common to many. On this account, I cannot be the
equal of the Prince.‛ With this thought MÈra drew the twelfth line.
(13) ‚Unlike this Prince Siddhattha, I have not fulfilled the Ten Perfections in my former
existences to acquire the knowledge of the attainment of great compassion (
mahÈ-
karuÓÈ-samÈpatti-ÒÈÓa
) which is not common to many. On this account, I cannot be
the equal of the Prince.‛ With this thought Mira drew the thirteenth line.
(14) ‚Unlike this Prince Siddhattha, I have not fulfilled the Ten Perfections in my former
existences to acquire the knowledge of the performance of the Twin Miracle
(
yamaka-pÈÔihÈriya-ÒÈÓa
) which is not common to many. On this account, I cannot
be the equal of the Prince.‛ With this thought MÈra drew the fourteenth line.
(15) ‚Unlike this Prince Siddhattha, I have not fulfilled the Ten Perfections in my former
existences to acquire the knowledge of unobstruction (
anÈvaraÓa-ÒÈÓa
) which is not
common to many. On this account, I cannot be the equal of the Prince.‛ With this
thought MÈra drew the fifteenth line.
(16) ‚Unlike this Prince Siddhattha, I have not fulfilled the Ten Perfections in my former
existences to acquire Omniscience (
sabbaÒÒutÈ-ÒÈÓa
) which is not common to many.
On this account, I cannot be the equal of the Prince.‛ With this thought MÈra drew
the sixteenth line.
At that time, MÈra's three daughters, TaÓhÈ, Arati and RagÈ, looked around, thinking:
‚We have not seen our father (MÈra). Where is he now?‛ and they saw him brooding,
squatting and scratching lines on the ground. So they approached him quickly and asked:
‚Father, why do you look so sad and dejected?‛ ‚Dear daughters,‛ replied MÈra, ‚this
Ascetic Gotama has escaped my domain of three worlds. Though I have been shadowing
Him for this period of seven years to find faults with Him, yet I could not find the least
chance to blame Him for His wrong. Therefore, I am so sad and dejected.‛ ‚Father, please
do not get worried at all. We shall entice this Ascetic Gotama and bring Him to your
presence,‛ promised the three daughters.
Then MÈra said: ‚Dear daughters, nobody in the world is able to entice this Ascetic
Gotama. He is well established in His unshaken faith.‛ ‚Father, we are womenfolk. We
shall get him bound in the snares etc., of passion and bring him to you quickly. Please do
not get disappointed and worried.‛ Saying thus, the three female deities approached the
Buddha and said to Him enticingly: ‚Venerable Recluse, permit us to attend on you, sitting
respectfully at your feet and satisfying all your needs.‛ The Buddha, however, ignored
them, and remained enjoying the bliss of NibbÈna
,
absorbed in
phala-samÈpatti
without
opening His eyes.