The Buddha alone, opening the saṃyutta's fourth and final chapter
Form
A single sentence naming a specific historical individual and event
Length
under 1 minute to read
Northern parallel
A rough counterpart may exist in the Chinese Saṃyukta-āgama (T99), though this reading guide does not assert a specific matching sutra number
Difficulty
★★★☆☆ — the saṃyutta's turn from anonymous illustration to named historical case
Why this discourse
Every discourse before this one in the saṃyutta illustrates its danger through an anonymous “certain mendicant” or a hypothetical scenario. This discourse breaks that pattern entirely: Devadatta, the Buddha's own cousin and a named historical figure within the early community, split the Saṅgha because his mind was overcome and overwhelmed by possessions, honor, and popularity. Catutthavagga's opening discourse turns the collection's abstract warnings into documented consequence, naming the single most consequential failure the tradition attributes to this exact danger.
Reading guide
A named individual replacing anonymous illustration
Every fable and comparison so far in this saṃyutta featured an unnamed mendicant, ascetic, or layperson; this discourse instead names Devadatta specifically, converting the collection's warnings from hypothetical risk to attested historical outcome.
Schism as the specific, gravest consequence named
Saṅghabheda, splitting the monastic community, is treated in the wider canon as among the gravest possible offenses; naming it as the direct result of this saṃyutta's central danger signals how seriously the collection wants that danger taken.
Opening a chapter built entirely around one case
Rather than a single reference, this discourse opens a sustained sequence: five of Catutthavagga's next several discourses continue examining Devadatta specifically, making him this closing chapter's central case study.
The identical diagnostic language, now attached to history
abhibhūto pariyādiṇṇacitto, “overcome and overwhelmed,” recurs here exactly as used throughout this saṃyutta — the same compound, now applied to an outcome the tradition remembers as actually having happened.
A deliberate structural choice for the saṃyutta's close
Placing this named case at the start of the final chapter, rather than earlier or scattered throughout, lets the collection build toward its most concrete example only after establishing the full range of anonymous illustrations first.
Key terms
devadatto — “Devadatta” — a member of the early Saṅgha traditionally identified as the Buddha's cousin, named here as this saṃyutta's central historical case.
saṅghaṁ bhindi — “split the Saṅgha” — the specific, grave consequence this discourse attributes to Devadatta's affliction.
abhibhūto pariyādiṇṇacitto — “overcome and overwhelmed” — the standing diagnostic compound used throughout this saṃyutta, applied here to an attested historical event.
dāruṇo — “grim” — the recurring characterization opening this discourse, as throughout the collection.
paṭhamaṁ — “the first” — this discourse's closing numbering tag, opening Catutthavagga's own count.
The text
The discourse in full. Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0, SuttaCentral).
§1At Sāvatthī. “Possessions, honor, and popularity are grim … Devadatta split the Saṅgha because his mind was overcome and overwhelmed by possessions, honor, and popularity. So grim are possessions, honor, and popularity. …”
· · ·
Self-check quiz
Ten questions. Click an answer to see immediate feedback. No score is recorded — this is for your own checking.
Question 1 of 10
What does this discourse claim caused Devadatta to split the Saṅgha?
Correct: A. The same diagnostic condition named throughout this saṃyutta, now attached to a specific historical event.
Question 2 of 10
How does this discourse's approach differ from every discourse before it in this saṃyutta?
Correct: A. Converting the collection's warnings from hypothetical risk to documented historical outcome.
Question 3 of 10
Who is named as the historical figure in this discourse?
Correct: A. A named member of the early community, not an anonymous mendicant.
Question 4 of 10
What specific consequence does this discourse attribute to Devadatta's condition?
Correct: A. One of the tradition's gravest possible offenses, named as the direct outcome of this danger.
Question 5 of 10
What role does this discourse play in opening Catutthavagga?
Correct: A. Devadatta becomes this closing chapter's central case study.
Question 6 of 10
What diagnostic phrase recurs here from earlier in this saṃyutta?
Correct: A. The same standing diagnosis, now applied to an attested historical case.
Question 7 of 10
Why might this discourse's named case be placed at the start of the final chapter rather than scattered earlier?
Correct: A. A deliberate structural choice for how the saṃyutta approaches its close.
Question 8 of 10
Where does the Buddha deliver this teaching?
Correct: A. The setting shared with most discourses in this collection.
