➥ parājita:

• for parājita:
  • defeated
• for aparājita:
  • undefeated [by Māra’s army]
  • invincible
  • the Invincible One

Parajita: ‘defeated’

Parajita usually means ‘defeated’:

• Victory was for the devas, and the asuras were defeated

jayo surānaṁ asurā parājitā. (Snp 681)

Padhāna Sutta: parenthesising ‘[by Māra’s army]’

In his battle with Māra, the Bodhisatta said:

• ‘Death in battle is better for me than to [surrender and] live on defeated.’

Saṅgāme me mataṁ seyyo yaṁ ce jīve parājito. (Snp 440)

By ‘defeated’ he meant ‘defeated [by Māra’s army]’ because, in the previous verse, concerning the ten armies of Māra, he said:

‘That is your army, Namuci, the forces of inward darkness. None but the heroic will conquer it. Having conquered it one finds happiness.’

Esā namuci te senā kaṇhassābhippahārinī
Na naṁ asūro jināti jetvā ca labhate sukhaṁ. (Snp 439)

Where ‘defeated’ needs parenthesising, this, then, is our parenthesis. It is supported by other passages:

• When will I, having furiously taken up the seers’ sword of wisdom of fierce strength, [sitting cross-legged] on the invincible seat, quickly destroy Māra and his army? When, oh when, will it be?

Kadā nu paññāmayamuggatejaṁ satthaṁ isīnaṁ sahasādiyitvā
Māraṁ sasenaṁ sahasā bhañjissaṁ sīhāsane taṁ nu kadā bhavissati (Tha 1095). Commentary: Sīhāsaneti thirāsane aparājitapallaṅketi attho.

Commentary: kilesa and Māra

Frequently the commentary explains parājito in terms of Māra, as we show in quotes in the illustrations below. Sometimes it explains parājito in terms of kilesa. For example, kilesehi parājito (Tha 194). However, kilesa is a synonym of Māra’s army and there seems no advantage in changing the parenthesis when the suttas are already clear which parenthesis is to be applied. Parājito implies war, which fits well with ‘army.’

Aparājita: the Invincible One

In the context of the Buddha, we call aparājita ‘the Invincible One’:

• Since [the time] I heard the Teacher’s teaching spoken, I do not recall [in myself any] unsureness about the [perfection of the transcendent insight of the] All-knowing One, the Invincible One.

Yadāhaṁ dhammamassosiṁ bhāsamānassa satthuno
Na kaṅkhamabhijānāmi sabbaññū aparājite. (Tha 131-2)

Commentary: pañcannampi mārānaṁ abhibhavanato tehi aparājitattā.

➥ aparājito: (main article see: parājita)

Illustration: aparājito, undefeated [by Māra’s army]

That peaceful, mindful bhikkhu, tranquil, undefeated [by Māra’s army].

Sa ve santo sato bhikkhu passaddho aparājito. (AN ii 42)

Commentary: Aparājito ti sabbakilese jinitvā ṭhitattā kenaci aparājito

➥ aparājitā: (main article see: parājita)

Illustration: aparājitā, undefeated [by Māra’s army]

‘Having cultivated such things, those who are everywhere undefeated [by Māra’s army] go everywhere in safety: this for them is supremely auspicious.’

Etādisāni katvāna sabbatthamaparājitā
Sabbattha sotthiṁ gacchanti taṁ tesaṁ maṅgalamuttaman ti. (Snp 269)

Commentary: Sabbatthamaparājitā ti sabbattha khandhakilesābhisaṅkhāradevaputtamārappabhedesu catūsu paccatthikesu ekenapi aparājitā hutvā, sayameva te cattāro māre parājetvāti vuttaṁ hoti.

Illustration: aparājito, undefeated [by Māra’s army]

Being endowed with the training and a [right means of] livelihood, with sense faculties well-restrained [from grasping, through mindfulness], venerating the Perfectly Enlightened One, I dwelt undefeated [by Māra’s army].

Sikkhāsājīvasampanno indriyesu susaṁvuto
Namassamāno sambuddhaṁ vihāsiṁ aparājito. (Tha 513)

Commentary: kilesamārādīhi aparājito.

➥ aparājita: (main article see: parājita)

Illustration: aparājita, undefeated [by Māra’s army]

A great concourse takes place in the woods. The deva hosts have assembled. We have come to this religious gathering, to see the community of bhikkhus, undefeated [by Māra’s army].

Mahāsamayo pavanasmiṁ devakāyā samāgatā
Āgatamha imaṁ dhammasamayaṁ dakkhitāye aparājitasaṅghan ti. (SN i 26)

Commentary: Dakkhitāye aparājitasaṅghan ti kenaci aparājitaṁ ajjeva tayo māre madditvā vijitasaṅgāmaṁ imaṁ aparājitasaṅghaṁ dassanatthāya āgatamhāti attho.

➥ aparājitaṁ: (main article see: parājita)

Illustration: aparājitaṁ, invincible

We shall abide revering you like the Tāvatiṁsā devas revering Inda, invincible in war.

Indaṁca tidasā devā saṅgāme aparājitaṁ
Purakkhatvā vihassāma. (Thi 121)