[680] **As a deer unbound in the forest goes wherever it wishes for pasture** — "Deer" (migo): there are two kinds of deer: the eṇi deer and the sarabha deer. Just as a deer that belongs to the forest, dwelling in the forest, goes confidently, stands confidently, sits confidently, lies down confidently.
For this was said by the Blessed One: "Bhikkhus, just as a forest deer, roaming in a forest wilderness, goes confidently, stands confidently, sits confidently, lies down confidently. Why is that? Because, bhikkhus, it has gone out of the hunter's range. Even so, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu, 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. This bhikkhu, bhikkhus, is said to have blinded Māra; having struck down Māra's eye so that it is left trackless, he has gone beyond the sight of the Evil One.
"Again, bhikkhus, with the stilling of thought and examination, a bhikkhu enters and dwells in the second jhāna, which has internal confidence and unification of mind (citta), is without thought and without examination, with rapture and pleasure born of concentration (samādhi). This bhikkhu, bhikkhus, is said to have blinded Māra; having struck down Māra's eye so that it is left trackless, he has gone beyond the sight of the Evil One.
"Again, bhikkhus, with the fading away of rapture, a bhikkhu dwells equanimous and, with mindfulness (sati) and clear comprehension (sampajañña), he experiences pleasure with the body; he enters and dwells in the third jhāna, of which the noble ones declare: 'He is equanimous, mindful, one who dwells in pleasure.' This bhikkhu, bhikkhus, is said to have blinded Māra; having struck down Māra's eye so that it is left trackless, he has gone beyond the sight of the Evil One.
"Again, bhikkhus, with the abandoning of pleasure and the abandoning of pain, and with the previous disappearance of joy and grief, a bhikkhu enters and dwells in the fourth jhāna, which is neither painful nor pleasant and has purity of mindfulness due to equanimity (upekkhā). This bhikkhu, bhikkhus, is said to have blinded Māra; having struck down Māra's eye so that it is left trackless, he has gone beyond the sight of the Evil One.
"Again, bhikkhus, with the complete surmounting of perceptions of form, with the disappearance of perceptions of sensory impingement, with non-attention to perceptions of diversity, [aware that] 'space is infinite,' a bhikkhu enters and dwells in the sphere of the infinity of space (ākāsānañcāyatana). This bhikkhu, bhikkhus, is said to have blinded Māra; having struck down Māra's eye so that it is left trackless, he has gone beyond the sight of the Evil One.
"Again, bhikkhus, by completely surmounting the sphere of the infinity of space, [aware that] 'consciousness is infinite,' a bhikkhu enters and dwells in the sphere of the infinity of consciousness (viññāṇañcāyatana). By completely surmounting the sphere of the infinity of consciousness, [aware that] 'there is nothing,' he enters and dwells in the sphere of nothingness (ākiñcaññāyatana). By completely surmounting the sphere of nothingness, [aware that] 'this is peaceful, this is sublime,' he enters and dwells in the sphere of neither perception nor non-perception (nevasaññānāsaññāyatana). By completely surmounting the sphere of neither perception nor non-perception, he enters and dwells in the cessation of perception and feeling (saññāvedayitanirodha); and having seen with wisdom, his taints (āsava) are utterly destroyed. This bhikkhu, bhikkhus, is said to have blinded Māra; having struck down Māra's eye so that it is left trackless, he has gone beyond the sight of the Evil One; he has crossed over attachment (visattikā) in the world. He goes confidently, stands confidently, sits confidently, lies down confidently. Why is that? Because, bhikkhus, he has gone out of the range of the Evil One."
Hence: **As a deer unbound in the forest goes wherever it wishes for pasture.**
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.