2. Soma Sutta Discourse Concerning Bhikkhuni Soma , Bhikkhuni Samyutta Sagatha Vagga Samyutta, Samyutta Nikaya, Suttanta Pitaka SOURCE: "FIVE SAMYUTTAS FROM SAGATHAVAGGA SAMYUTTA" Translated by U Tin U (Myaung), Yangon Edited by the Editorial Committee, Burma (Myanmar) Tipitaka Association, 1998

2. Soma Sutta: Discourse Concerning Bhikkhuni Soma

163. The Bhagava was staying at Savatthi. During that time Soma the bhikkhuni, on a certain morning, rearranged the robes on her person and carrying alms-bowl and great robe, entered the town of Savatthi for alms-food. After going round Savatthi for alms-food and having had her meal she left the place of alms-gathering and went to the Andhavana Forest to spend the day (in meditation). Having entered the Andhavana Forest, she sat at the foot of a tree to spend the day (in meditation). Then, Mara the Wicked One, desiring to make the bhikkhuni feel hair-raising dread and terror and desiring to make her lose concentration, went to where the bhikkhuni was and spoke in verse to Soma the bhikkhuni:

"That goal (of arahattaphala) which is extremely difficult to reach is attainable only by the Great Wise Ones; it is not for the shallow intellect of a woman." Thereupon Soma the bhikkhuni thought, "Who might be this that speaks to me in verse? Is he human or non-human?" And then it occurred to her: This is Mara the Wicked One who speaks in verse desiring to make me feel hair-raising dread and terror and desiring to make me lose concentration. Then, Soma the bhikkhuni, knowing that it was Mara the Wicked One, replied to Mara the Wicked One in verses:

"When the mind is well settled, when Fruition-knowledge is attained, to one who gains Insight into dhamma* what does womanhood matter? "To someone who considers himself a man, or a woman, or some other thing (because of attachment, conceit or wrong view) you might well say that (i.e., what he had said)".

Mara the Wicked One then realized, "Soma the bhikkhuni knows me," and, feeling frustrated and miserable, he vanished thence.

End of the Soma Sutta

The Second in this Vagga.

(v) Bhikkhuni Samyutta,

Link to Alphabetical List of Suttas

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