Pāli Dictionary

Vajirā2

Person

A nun who, when questioned by Māra about the origin and nature of a being, answered that there is no such thing apart from its conditioned constituent parts, likening it to a chariot; her verses are widely quoted though her own story is otherwise unknown.

The Saṃyuttanikāya (S.i.134 f) relates that one day, when she was taking her siesta in Andhavana at Sāvatthi, Māra questioned her as to the origin of “a being” (satta), its creator, its origin, its destiny. Vajirā answers that there is no such thing as “a being,” apart from certain conditioned factors, like a chariot, which exists only because of its parts. Māra retires discomfited.

Vajirā’s verses are often quoted (e.g. Kvu. 240, 626; Mil. p.28; Vism.ii.593) both in the Canon and in later works, but they are not included in the Therīgāthā, nor do we know anything else about her.

SN 5.10

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