Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v2.c31.2783

v2.c31.2783

Māra is called Namuci because none can escape him—Namuci ti Māro; so hi attano visayā nikkhamitukāme devamanusse na muñcati antarāyam tesam karoti tasmā Namuci ti vuccati.³² In the Mahāsamaya Sutta, Namuci is mentioned³³ among the Asuras as being present in the assembly. The Commentary explains³⁴ that Namuci refers to Māradevaputta and accounts for his presence among the Asuras by the fact that he was temperamentally their companion (te pi acchandikā abhabbā, ayam pi tādiso yeva, tasmā dhātuso samsandamāno āgato). Buddhaghosa says³⁵ that Māra is so called because he destroys all those who seek to evade him—