Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v2.c31.2735

v2.c31.2735

The Commentaries also speak of three Māras: bodhipallaṅke tiṇṇaṃ Mārāṇaṃ matthakaṃ bhinditvā (DA. ii. 659); aparājitasanghan ti ajj’ eva tayo Māre madditvā vijitasaṅgāṇaṃ matthakaṃ madditvā anuttaraṃ sammāsambodhim abhisambuddho (CNidA. p. 47). In some cases the three Māras are specified: yathayidaṃ bhikkhave mārabalan ti yathā idaṃ devaputtamāra-maccumāra-kilesamārāṇaṃ balaṃ appasahaṃ durabhisambhavam (DA. iii. 858); maccuhāyino ti maraṇamaccu-kilesamaccu-devaputtamaccu hāyino, tividhaṃ pi taṃ maccum hitvā gāmino ti vuttaṃ hoti (SNA. ii. 508; cp. MA. ii. 619); na lacchati Māro otāraṃ; Māro ti devaputtamāro pi maccumāro pi kilesamāro pi (DA. iii. 846); but elsewhere five are mentioned—e.g., ariyamaggakkhaṇe kilesamāro abhisaṅkhāramāro, devaputtamāro ca carimaka-cittakkhaṇe khandhamāro maccumāro ti pañcavidhamāro abhibhūto parājito (UdA. 216). Very occasionally four Māras are mentioned: catunnaṃ Mārāṇaṃ matthakaṃ madditvā anuttaraṃ sammāsambodhim abhisambuddho (MNid. 129); indakhīlopamo catubbidhamāraparavādigaṇehi akampiyaṭṭhena (SNA. i. 201); Mārasenaṃ sasenaṃ abhibhuyyāti kilesasenāya anantasenāya ca sasenaṃ anavasitthaṃ catubbidhaṃ pi māraṃ abhibhavitvā devaputtamārassā pi hi guṇamāraṇe sahāyabhāvūpagamanato kilesā senā ti vuccanti (ItvA. 136). The last quotation seems to indicate that the four Māras are the five Māras less Devaputta-Māra.