Lion

At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.

Now, at that time the Buddha was teaching Dhamma, surrounded by a large assembly.

Then Māra thought,

“The ascetic Gotama is teaching Dhamma, surrounded by a large assembly.

Why don’t I go and pull the wool over their eyes?”

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

“Why now do you roar like a lion?

You’re so self-assured in the assembly!

For there is someone who’ll wrestle with you,

so why do you imagine you’re the victor?”

“The great heroes they roar,

self-assured in the assemblies.

The Realized One, attained to power, ^[1]

has crossed over clinging to the world.”

Then Māra the Wicked, thinking, “The Buddha knows me! The Holy One knows me!” miserable and sad, vanished right there.