Myths of the Hindus & Buddhists

The Defeat of MaraThey wooed him with song and dance and every artifice oflove; but he remained unchangedin face or mind, like alily resting on quiet waters, and firm as Mount Meru, likethe iron walls that gird the universe. Then they arguedwith him, depicting the pleasures and duties of worldlylife, and the difficulty and danger of the search forwisdom ;but he answered :Pleasure is brief as the lightningflashWhy should 1 \ then, covet the pleasures you describe?And Mara s daughters, recognizing their failure, lefthimwith a prayer for his success :That which your heart desires may youA attain !nd findingforyourself deliverance , deliver all.The Defeat of MaraThen Mara himself engaged in argument; and when healso was unsuccessful, he led on his demon army to theattack.All the devas were terrified and fled away, leaving the Bodhisattva alone. Of every shape, kind, and colour,uttering every unearthly sound, filling the air with darknessand shaking the ground, the horrid army advanced withthreatening gestures toward the Bodhisattva ;but thespears stuck to their hands, their limbs were paralysed, andthough they would have ground him to dust or burnthim with fiery tongues, they could not hurt so much as ahair; he sat unmoved, while the weapons showered uponhim fell at his feet as flowers. Mara exhausted everyresource, and when all had failed he took up his terriblediscus, and mounting the elephant Cloud-mountain, himself approached the prince. Now this weapon,thrown against Mount Meru, would cut it in twain like aif it were269