SN 4.8  Nandati sutta - Delights

Evaṁ me sutaṁ— ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.

Thus have I heard—At one time, the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthi, in Jeta’s grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s park.

Atha kho māro pāpimā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:

Then |Māra::embodiment of all forces that keeps beings trapped in the cycle of rebirth [māra]| the Evil One approached the Blessed One; having approached, he recited this verse in the Blessed One’s presence:

“Nandati puttehi puttimā,
Gomā gobhi tatheva nandati;
Upadhīhi narassa nandanā,
Na hi so nandati yo nirūpadhī”ti.

“One with children delights because of children,
one with cattle delights in the same way because of cattle;
A person’s delight is due to |acquisitions::attachment, taking as mine, appropriation, sense of ownership, identification [upadhi]|,
without acquisitions, one does not delight.”

“Socati puttehi puttimā,
Gomā gobhi tatheva socati;
Upadhīhi narassa socanā,
Na hi so socati yo nirūpadhī”ti.

[The Blessed One]: “One with children |sorrows::grieves [socati]| because of children,
one with cattle sorrows in the same way because of cattle;
A person’s sorrow is due to acquisitions,
without acquisitions, one does not sorrow.”

Atha kho māro pāpimā “jānāti maṁ bhagavā, jānāti maṁ sugato”ti dukkhī dummano tatthevantaradhāyīti.

Then Māra the Evil One, thinking, “The Blessed One knows me, the Accomplished One knows me,” dejected and disappointed, disappeared right there.