The Buddha expresses an inspired utterance about the qualities of a person who falls under the sway of Māra and of one who overcomes all bad destinations.
Evaṁ me sutaṁ— ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā kusinārāyaṁ viharati upavattane mallānaṁ sālavane. Tena kho pana samayena sambahulā bhikkhū bhagavato avidūre araññakuṭikāyaṁ viharanti uddhatā unnaḷā capalā mukharā vikiṇṇavācā muṭṭhassatino asampajānā asamāhitā vibbhantacittā pākatindriyā.
Thus have I heard—At one time, the Blessed One was dwelling near |Kusinārā::Kushinagar, a present-day town in Uttar Pradesh, India, revered as the place where the Buddha attained Final Nibbāna. [kusinārā]| in the Sal grove of the |Mallas::name of the people of Malla, Mallans; lit. wrestlers [mallā]|. Now at that time, a number of bhikkhus were dwelling in a forest hut not far from the Blessed One. They were |restless::agitated, unbalanced, confused about what is right and wrong [uddhata]|, |arrogant::conceited, haughty [unnaḷa]|, |unsteady::wavering, fickle, inconsistent [capala]|, |talkative::big-mouthed [mukhara]|, |chatty::with scattered speech [vikiṇṇavāca]|, |muddle-minded::forgetful, not mindful [muṭṭhassatī]|, |lacking clear awareness::inattentive [asampajāna]|, |distracted::with scattered attention, not collected, not well-composed [asamāhita]|, |with a wandering mind::with runaway thoughts, mentally out of control [vibbhantacitta]|, and |with unrestrained faculties::with uncontrolled senses bases, having a vulgar mind [pākatindriya]|.
Addasā kho bhagavā te sambahule bhikkhū avidūre araññakuṭikāyaṁ viharante uddhate unnaḷe capale mukhare vikiṇṇavāce muṭṭhassatino asampajāne asamāhite vibbhantacitte pākatindriye.
The Blessed One saw those bhikkhus, restless, arrogant, unsteady, talkative, chatty, muddle-minded, lacking clear awareness, distracted, with a wandering mind, and with unrestrained faculties, dwelling in a forest hut not far from him.
Atha kho bhagavā etamatthaṁ viditvā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:
Then, understanding the significance of this, the Blessed One at that time expressed this inspired utterance:
“Arakkhitena kāyena,
micchādiṭṭhihatena ca;
Thinamiddhābhibhūtena,
vasaṁ mārassa gacchati.
“With an unguarded body,
and afflicted by |wrong view::a distorted perception, an untrue view, a false belief [micchādiṭṭhi]|;
Overcome by |dullness and drowsiness::lack of mental clarity or alertness, mental sluggishness, lethargy, sleepiness lit. stiffness (of mind/body due to tiredness) [thinamiddha]|,
he falls under the sway of Māra.
Tasmā rakkhitacittassa,
sammāsaṅkappagocaro;
Sammādiṭṭhipurekkhāro,
ñatvāna udayabbayaṁ;
Thinamiddhābhibhū bhikkhu,
sabbā duggatiyo jahe”ti.
Therefore, with a guarded mind,
being in the domain of |right intention::intention of renunciation, goodwill, and harmlessness; the resolve to let go of craving, ill will, and cruelty, cultivating thoughts that lead to peace and liberation [sammāsaṅkappa]|;
Led by |right view::view that is in line with the Dhamma - teachings of the Buddha that point to the nature of reality, the ultimate truth [sammādiṭṭhi]|,
Having known |arising and passing away::appearance and disappearance, formation and dissolution [udayabbaya]|;
The bhikkhu who masters dullness and drowsiness,
abandons all bad destinations.”
Thus have I heard—At one time, the Blessed One was dwelling near |Kusinārā::Kushinagar, a present-day town in Uttar Pradesh, India, revered as the place where the Buddha attained Final Nibbāna. [kusinārā]| in the Sal grove of the |Mallas::name of the people of Malla, Mallans; lit. wrestlers [mallā]|. Now at that time, a number of bhikkhus were dwelling in a forest hut not far from the Blessed One. They were |restless::agitated, unbalanced, confused about what is right and wrong [uddhata]|, |arrogant::conceited, haughty [unnaḷa]|, |unsteady::wavering, fickle, inconsistent [capala]|, |talkative::big-mouthed [mukhara]|, |chatty::with scattered speech [vikiṇṇavāca]|, |muddle-minded::forgetful, not mindful [muṭṭhassatī]|, |lacking clear awareness::inattentive [asampajāna]|, |distracted::with scattered attention, not collected, not well-composed [asamāhita]|, |with a wandering mind::with runaway thoughts, mentally out of control [vibbhantacitta]|, and |with unrestrained faculties::with uncontrolled senses bases, having a vulgar mind [pākatindriya]|.
The Blessed One saw those bhikkhus, restless, arrogant, unsteady, talkative, chatty, muddle-minded, lacking clear awareness, distracted, with a wandering mind, and with unrestrained faculties, dwelling in a forest hut not far from him.
Then, understanding the significance of this, the Blessed One at that time expressed this inspired utterance:
“With an unguarded body,
and afflicted by |wrong view::a distorted perception, an untrue view, a false belief [micchādiṭṭhi]|;
Overcome by |dullness and drowsiness::lack of mental clarity or alertness, mental sluggishness, lethargy, sleepiness lit. stiffness (of mind/body due to tiredness) [thinamiddha]|,
he falls under the sway of Māra.
Therefore, with a guarded mind,
being in the domain of |right intention::intention of renunciation, goodwill, and harmlessness; the resolve to let go of craving, ill will, and cruelty, cultivating thoughts that lead to peace and liberation [sammāsaṅkappa]|;
Led by |right view::view that is in line with the Dhamma - teachings of the Buddha that point to the nature of reality, the ultimate truth [sammādiṭṭhi]|,
Having known |arising and passing away::appearance and disappearance, formation and dissolution [udayabbaya]|;
The bhikkhu who masters dullness and drowsiness,
abandons all bad destinations.”
Evaṁ me sutaṁ— ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā kusinārāyaṁ viharati upavattane mallānaṁ sālavane. Tena kho pana samayena sambahulā bhikkhū bhagavato avidūre araññakuṭikāyaṁ viharanti uddhatā unnaḷā capalā mukharā vikiṇṇavācā muṭṭhassatino asampajānā asamāhitā vibbhantacittā pākatindriyā.
Addasā kho bhagavā te sambahule bhikkhū avidūre araññakuṭikāyaṁ viharante uddhate unnaḷe capale mukhare vikiṇṇavāce muṭṭhassatino asampajāne asamāhite vibbhantacitte pākatindriye.
Atha kho bhagavā etamatthaṁ viditvā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:
“Arakkhitena kāyena,
micchādiṭṭhihatena ca;
Thinamiddhābhibhūtena,
vasaṁ mārassa gacchati.
Tasmā rakkhitacittassa,
sammāsaṅkappagocaro;
Sammādiṭṭhipurekkhāro,
ñatvāna udayabbayaṁ;
Thinamiddhābhibhū bhikkhu,
sabbā duggatiyo jahe”ti.