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← Saṃyutta Nikāya

Sleeping

SN 4.7 · Supatisutta

A modest yellow wildflower grows from a crack in a weathered stone.

At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels’ feeding ground.

He spent much of the night walking mindfully in the open. At the crack of dawn he washed his feet and entered his dwelling. He laid down in the lion’s posture—on the right side, placing one foot on top of the other—mindful and aware, and focused on the time of getting up.

Then Māra the Wicked went up to the Buddha and addressed him in verse:

“What, you’re asleep? Really, you’re asleep? You sleep like a loser—what’s up with that? You sleep, thinking that the hut is empty. You sleep when the sun has come up—what’s up with that?”

“For them there is no craving—the weaver, the clinger—to track them anywhere. With the ending of all attachments the awakened Buddha sleeps. What’s that got to do with you, Māra?”

Then Māra … vanished right there.

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Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato · SuttaCentral · CC0

This translation is an expression of an ancient spiritual text that has been passed down by the Buddhist tradition for the benefit of all sentient beings. It is dedicated to the public domain via Creative Commons Zero (CC0). You are encouraged to copy, reproduce, adapt, alter, or otherwise make use of this translation. The translator respectfully requests that any use be in accordance with the values and principles of the Buddhist community. In particular, please do not use this work in AI training datasets, for the development of any AI model or algorithm, or in any AI-derived technologies.

Published source. Translation wording and order are preserved; source headings and notes are retained, with navigation and formatting adapted for this reader.

The opening image is AI-generated nature artwork for Buddhist Atlas, an evocative companion rather than a historical depiction.