5.
The Discourse on Uppalavaṇṇā
166.
At Sāvatthī.
Then the nun Uppalavaṇṇā, having dressed in the earlier period of the day, etc.
stood at the foot of a certain sal tree in full bloom.
Then Māra the Evil One, wishing to arouse fear, trepidation, and terror in the nun Uppalavaṇṇā, wishing to make her fall away from concentration, approached the nun Uppalavaṇṇā;
having approached, he addressed the nun Uppalavaṇṇā in verse -
You stand alone at the foot of the sal tree;
There is no second one equal to your beauty,
Foolish one, do you not fear the cheats?"
Then this occurred to the nun Uppalavaṇṇā - "Who indeed is this, a human being or a non-human spirit, speaking a verse?" Then this occurred to the nun Uppalavaṇṇā - "This is Māra the Evil One, wishing to arouse fear, trepidation, and terror in me, wishing to make me fall away from concentration, speaking a verse." Then the nun Uppalavaṇṇā, having understood "this is Māra the Evil One", replied to Māra the Evil One in verses -
Such as these, might come here;
I do not stir a hair, I do not tremble,
I do not fear you, Māra, even alone.
Even standing between your eyelashes, you will not see me.
I am freed from all bondage, I do not fear you, friend."
Then Māra the Evil One, thinking "the nun Uppalavaṇṇā knows me", afflicted and unhappy, disappeared right there.