[524] Then it occurred to the bhikkhunī Āḷavikā: "Now who is this that speaks the verse — a human or a non-human?"
Then it occurred to the bhikkhunī Āḷavikā: "This is Māra the Evil One, who speaks the verse desiring to arouse in me fear, trepidation, and terror, and desiring to make me fall away from seclusion (viveka)."
Then the bhikkhunī Āḷavikā, having understood, "This is Māra the Evil One," addressed Māra the Evil One in verses:
"There is an escape (nissaraṇa) in the world,
well touched by me with wisdom (paññā);
O Evil One, kinsman of the negligent,
you do not know that state.
Sensual pleasures (kāmā) are like swords and stakes,
the aggregates (khandhā) their chopping block;
what you call delight in sensual pleasures
has become for me no delight."
Then Māra the Evil One, realizing, "The bhikkhunī Āḷavikā knows me," sad and dejected, disappeared right there.
[Siam ed. footnote ¹: Ma. — vivekatthinī.]
The Somā Sutta, Second
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.