[243] 39. Bhikkhus, once in the past a battle between the devas and the asuras was arrayed. In that battle, bhikkhus, the asuras were victorious and the devas were defeated; and the defeated devas simply fled, heading northward, while the asuras bore down upon them. Then, bhikkhus, it occurred to the devas: "The asuras are still bearing down upon us. Suppose we do battle with the asuras a second time."
A second time, bhikkhus, the devas did battle with the asuras; a second time, bhikkhus, the asuras were victorious and the devas were defeated; and the defeated devas simply fled, heading northward, while the asuras bore down upon them. Then, bhikkhus, it occurred to the devas: "The asuras are still bearing down upon us. Suppose we do battle with the asuras a third time."
A third time, bhikkhus, the devas did battle with the asuras; a third time, bhikkhus, the asuras were victorious and the devas were defeated; and the defeated devas, frightened, entered the very city of the devas. And when they had gone to the city of the devas, bhikkhus, it occurred to them: "Now, having gone to what gives shelter to the fearful, we presently dwell by ourselves; the asuras can do nothing to us." And to the asuras too, bhikkhus, it occurred: "Now, having gone to what gives shelter to the fearful, the devas presently dwell by themselves; we can do nothing to them."
Bhikkhus, once in the past a battle between the devas and the asuras was arrayed. And in that battle, bhikkhus, the devas were victorious and the asuras were defeated; and the defeated asuras simply fled, heading southward, while the devas bore down upon them. Then, bhikkhus, it occurred to the asuras: "The devas are still bearing down upon us. Suppose we do battle with the devas a second time."
A second time, bhikkhus, the asuras did battle with the devas; a second time, bhikkhus, the devas were victorious and the asuras were defeated; and the defeated asuras simply fled, heading southward, while the devas bore down upon them. Then, bhikkhus, it occurred to the asuras: "The devas are still bearing down upon us. Suppose we do battle with the devas a third time."
A third time, bhikkhus, the asuras did battle with the devas; a third time, bhikkhus, the devas were victorious and the asuras were defeated; and the defeated asuras, frightened, entered the very city of the asuras. And when they had gone to the city of the asuras, bhikkhus, it occurred to them: "Now, having gone to what gives shelter to the fearful, we presently dwell by ourselves; the devas can do nothing to us." And to the devas too, bhikkhus, it occurred: "Now, having gone to what gives shelter to the fearful, the asuras presently dwell by themselves; we can do nothing to them."
Just so, bhikkhus, at whatever time a bhikkhu, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unwholesome states, enters and dwells in the first jhāna, which is accompanied by thought and examination, with rapture (pīti) and pleasure born of seclusion — at that time, bhikkhus, it occurs to the bhikkhu: "Now, having gone to what gives shelter to the fearful, I presently dwell by myself; Māra can do nothing to me." And to Māra the Evil One too, bhikkhus, it occurs: "Now, having gone to what gives shelter to the fearful, the bhikkhu presently dwells by himself; I can do nothing to him." At whatever time, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu, with the subsiding of thought and examination … enters and dwells in the second jhāna … the third jhāna … the fourth jhāna — at that time, bhikkhus, it occurs to the bhikkhu: "Now, having gone to what gives shelter to the fearful, I presently dwell by myself; Māra can do nothing to me." And to Māra the Evil One too, bhikkhus, it occurs: "Now, having gone to what gives shelter to the fearful, the bhikkhu presently dwells by himself; I can do nothing to him."
At whatever time, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu, by completely transcending perceptions of form, with the disappearance of perceptions of sensory repulsion, through non-attention to perceptions of diversity, [aware that] "space is infinite," enters and dwells in the Sphere of Infinity of Space (ākāsānañcāyatana) — this bhikkhu, bhikkhus, is said to have made an end of Māra; having bound Māra's eye so that it is left without a track, he has gone beyond the sight of the Evil One.
At whatever time, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu, by completely transcending the Sphere of Infinity of Space, [aware that] "consciousness is infinite," enters and dwells in the Sphere of Infinity of Consciousness (viññāṇañcāyatana) … by completely transcending the Sphere of Infinity of Consciousness, [aware that] "there is nothing at all," enters and dwells in the Sphere of Nothingness (ākiñcaññāyatana) … by completely transcending the Sphere of Nothingness, enters and dwells in the Sphere of Neither Perception Nor Non-Perception (nevasaññānāsaññāyatana) … by completely transcending the Sphere of Neither Perception Nor Non-Perception, enters and dwells in the extinction of perception and feeling (saññāvedayitanirodha), and, having seen with wisdom, his taints (āsava) are utterly destroyed — this bhikkhu, bhikkhus, is said to have made an end of Māra; having bound Māra's eye so that it is left without a track, he has gone beyond the sight of the Evil One, and he has crossed over clinging to the world.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.