[254] "Bhikkhus, suppose that in a forested wilderness there were a great low-lying marsh, and a great herd of deer lived in dependence upon it. Then a certain man would appear desiring their ruin, desiring their harm, desiring their bondage (ayogakkhema); he would close off the path that is safe, secure, and leading to joy, and would open up a false path; he would set out a decoy buck and place a decoy doe. Thus, bhikkhus, at a later time that great herd of deer would meet with calamity and disaster and be reduced in number. But then, bhikkhus, a certain man would appear desiring the good of that great herd of deer, desiring their welfare, desiring their security from bondage; he would open up the path that is safe, secure, and leading to joy, and would close off the false path; he would remove the decoy buck and destroy the decoy doe. Thus, bhikkhus, at a later time that great herd of deer would attain growth, increase, and abundance.
"Bhikkhus, I have made this simile in order to convey a meaning. And this is the meaning here: 'The great low-lying marsh'—this, bhikkhus, is a designation for sensual pleasures (kāmā). 'The great herd of deer'—this, bhikkhus, is a designation for beings. 'The man desiring their ruin, desiring their harm, desiring their bondage'—this, bhikkhus, is a designation for Māra the Evil One. 'The false path'—this, bhikkhus, is a designation for the wrong eightfold path, namely: wrong view, wrong intention, wrong speech, wrong action, wrong livelihood, wrong effort, wrong mindfulness, and wrong concentration (samādhi). 'The decoy buck'—this, bhikkhus, is a designation for delight and lust (nandirāga). 'The decoy doe'—this, bhikkhus, is a designation for ignorance (avijjā). 'The man desiring their good, desiring their welfare, desiring their security from bondage'—this, bhikkhus, is a designation for the Tathāgata, the Arahant, the Fully Enlightened One. 'The path that is safe, secure, and leading to joy'—this, bhikkhus, is a designation for the noble eightfold path, namely: right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.