The Story of the Bhikkhu who Contemplates the Body as a Mirage (Dhammapada 4 : 46)

IV. Puppha Vagga – Blossoms

Verse 46:
One who knows that this body is impermanent like froth,
and comprehends that it is insubstantial like a mirage,
will cut the flowers of Mara (i.e., the three kinds of vatta or rounds),
and pass out of sight of the King of Death.
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While residing at the Jetavana monastery, the Buddha uttered Verse (46) of this book, with reference to a certain bhikkhu.

On one occasion, a certain bhikkhu, after taking a subject of meditation from the Buddha, went to the forest. Although he tried hard he made little progress in his meditation; so he decided to go back to the Buddha for further instruction. On his way back he saw a mirage, which, after all, was only an illusive appearance of a sheet of water. At that instant, he came to realize that the body also was insubstantial like a mirage. Thus keeping his mind on the insubstantiality of the body he came to the bank of the river Aciravati. While sitting under a tree close to the river, seeing big froths breaking up, he realized the impermanent nature of the body.

Soon, the Buddha appeared in his vision and said to him, "My son, just as you have realized, this body is impermanent like froth and insubstantial like a mirage."

Then the Buddha spoke in verse as follows:

“pheṇūpamaṃ kāyam imaṃ viditvā

marīcidhammaṃ abhisambudhāno

chetvāna mārassa papupphakāni

adassanaṃ maccurājassa gacche”

One who knows that this body is impermanent like froth,

and comprehends that it is insubstantial like a mirage

will cut the flowers of Mara (i.e., the three kinds of vatta or rounds),

and pass out of sight of the King of Death.

At the end of the discourse the bhikkhu attained arahatship.

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Notes:

* papupphakāni = flowers or flower-tipped arrows of Mara. These flowers or arrows of Mara represent the tivattam or the three kinds of vattam (rounds); kilesavattam (the round of moral defilements), kammavattam (the round of volitional action) and vipakavattam (the round of resultant effects). According to the Commentary, this chain or round is broken when cut by the sword of ariya magga nana.

* adassanam maccurājassa gacche : In this context, out of sight of the King of Death means the realization of Nibbana.