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Māra's Daughters: Craving, Discontent and Lust Come to Tempt
Training the mind

Māra's Daughters: Craving, Discontent and Lust Come to Tempt

Māradhītusuttaṃ

Māra's three daughters, Taṇhā, Arati and Ragā, take the forms of women of many ages and try again and again to seduce the Buddha without success. They then question him in verse, and he answers with the peace that comes from conquering what is pleasing and agreeable.

7 points

In the Māradhītu Sutta of the Māra Saṃyutta, Saṃyutta Nikāya, Māra's three daughters, Taṇhā, Arati and Ragā, see their father grieving and offer to bind the man responsible with the snare of lust and bring him back. Māra replies that this man is an arahant who has gone beyond Māra's realm and cannot easily be led by lust.

The three approach and offer to serve at his feet. When he pays no attention, they reason that men's tastes differ, and take the forms of young girls, women who have never given birth, women who have given birth, middle-aged women and older women, a hundred each. Each time he pays no attention, since he is liberated in the unsurpassed ending of attachments.

Finally each asks him a question in verse, and he answers about the happiness of meditating alone and the state of one whom sensual perceptions cannot surround. When they return, Māra says their attempt was like trying to break a mountain with a lotus stalk.

The daughters' names match three defilements: craving, discontent and lust. Reading the story is like watching how many forms these defilements can take when they come for us.

  1. 1

    One beyond Māra's snare is not easily led by lust Māradheyyaṃ atikkanto

    The daughters offer to bind the man who has made their father grieve with the snare of lust, like someone bringing an elephant from the forest. Māra replies that this man is an arahant, well-gone in the world, who has passed beyond Māra's realm.

    Applying it in daily life

    Temptation only pulls when there is somewhere in our mind for it to tie on. Notice which things pull you most easily; that is where training is needed.

  2. 2

    Many forms, still no attention Anuttare upadhisaṅkhaye vimutto

    Reasoning that men's tastes differ, the daughters take the forms of young girls, women who have never given birth, women who have given birth once and twice, middle-aged women and older women, a hundred each. Each time the Buddha pays no attention, since he is liberated in the unsurpassed ending of attachments.

    Applying it in daily life

    When you've given something up, watch for the old craving returning in a new form, such as quitting games only to scroll videos instead. Look at the craving itself, not just the object that changed.

  3. 3

    The names of the three daughters Taṇhā arati ragā

    The three daughters are named Taṇhā (craving), Arati (discontent, restless boredom) and Ragā (lust). The three come together and plan together every time.

    Applying it in daily life

    When you want something and don't get it, notice how craving tends to bring irritation and boredom along with it. Seeing this in time keeps all three from dragging you off together.

  4. 4

    The happiness of conquering what is pleasing and agreeable Atthassa pattiṃ hadayassa santiṃ

    Taṇhā asks whether he is grieving, has lost wealth or has done something wrong, that he broods in the forest and makes no friends. He answers that he has conquered the army of the pleasing and agreeable, meditates alone, and has found that reaching the goal and peace of heart is happiness.

    Applying it in daily life

    Others may assume someone who enjoys quiet is lonely or has a problem. If you know that peace is real happiness, you don't need to explain it to everyone.

  5. 5

    One whom sensual perceptions cannot surround Passaddhakāyo suvimuttacitto

    Arati asks how a monk dwells and meditates so that sensual perceptions cannot surround him. He answers: one with a tranquil body and a well-liberated mind, not forming anything, mindful, without attachment, who fully understands the Dhamma and meditates in the absorption without thought, is not agitated, not scattered and not sluggish.

    Applying it in daily life

    Start with what you can do: calm the body first. Sit still and breathe slowly for a while. As the body relaxes, thoughts that drift toward stimulation lighten too.

  6. 6

    One who leads by the Dhamma gives no cause for envy Saddhammena tathāgatā

    Ragā says the Teacher has cut off craving, many people of faith will follow him, and he will lead many across to the far shore of Nibbāna. He answers that the Tathāgata leads beings by the true Dhamma; when leading is done by the Dhamma, why would the wise be envious?

    Applying it in daily life

    When you feel uneasy that someone else is widely respected, ask whether they lead people in a good direction. If so, envy has no reason to be held onto.

  7. 7

    Blown away like cotton in the wind Tūlaṃ bhaṭṭhaṃva māluto

    Māra says his daughters' attempt to make Gotama weary and leave was like fools breaking a mountain with a lotus stalk, digging a mountain with their nails, or chewing iron with their teeth. The Teacher drove the three away as the wind blows away a tuft of cotton.

    Applying it in daily life

    When your mind is steady in what you have chosen, temptations that seemed heavy become light as cotton. That steadiness is built little by little by not following craving in small matters.

Try it in daily life

Notice that the daughters don't try once and give up. They keep changing form, reasoning that "everyone likes something different". Craving does the same in real life: if it doesn't come in one form, it comes in another.

The Buddha doesn't fight or argue with each form. He simply pays no attention, since his mind has nowhere for them to cling. The lesson for ordinary people is that not feeding a temptation with attention often works better than arguing with it in your head.

This is the story of one already liberated. It is normal for ordinary people to still be moved. There is no need to blame yourself for feeling something; just gradually train to let the feeling pass without acting on it.

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