Six discourse numbers compressed into a single escalating list, closing with the saṃyutta's own colophon
Length
~2 minutes 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 closing block, ending with its own translated colophon
Why this discourse
This merged discourse completes the family-threshold escalation SN 17.37 began, running through six further relationships in a single continuous list: father, brother, sister, son, daughter, and finally spouse. Bilara-data preserves five of the six as bare elided names, explicitly instructing the reader to supply SN 17.37's full sentence in each case, before restating the observation and closing refrain in full. And where every earlier discourse in this saṃyutta closed with an untranslated uddāna, this block ends with a colophon actually rendered into English: the Linked Discourses on possessions, honor, and popularity are complete.
Reading guide
An explicit editorial instruction, not silent elision
Where the merged discourse SN 17.13-20 elided its list silently, this block's source includes an explicit parenthetical note, “tell in full as in SN 17.37,” naming exactly which earlier discourse should be consulted to fill in what's compressed here.
A list completing exactly what SN 17.37 began
Mother opened the list in the discourse immediately before this one; this block continues with father, brother, sister, son, and daughter before closing on spouse, covering the closest family relationships the tradition recognizes without repeating any of them.
Spouse closing the list at its most complicated bond
Pajāpati, here translated as wife but literally naming one who bears offspring, closes the list on a relationship combining both the intimacy of marriage and, potentially, all of the earlier bonds' protective instincts at once.
The saṃyutta's colophon, translated where others were not
Lābhasakkārasaṁyuttaṁ samattaṁ, “the Linked Discourses on possessions, honor, and popularity are complete,” is rendered in full by the source, following the same convention seen at the close of other completed saṃyuttas in this collection, even while the accompanying uddāna verse remains untranslated.
Thirteen discourse-positions closing one saṃyutta
This block marks itself Terasamaṁ, “the thirteenth,” the final discourse-position in Catutthavagga's count of thirteen, followed immediately by Catuttho vaggo marking the fourth chapter's close and then the saṃyutta's own completion — three levels of ending marked in succession.
Key terms
pitu … bhātu … bhaginiyā … puttassa … dhītuyā … pajāpatiyā — “father … brother … sister … son … daughter … spouse” — the six family relationships this block runs through in sequence, completing SN 17.37's mother.
(vitthāretabbaṁ) — “to be told in full” — the source's own explicit editorial instruction, naming SN 17.37 as the discourse to consult for the full sentence structure.
terasamaṁ — “the thirteenth” — this block's own marker, the final discourse-position in Catutthavagga's count.
catuttho vaggo — “the fourth chapter [is finished]” — marking Catutthavagga's close, immediately preceding the saṃyutta's own colophon.
lābhasakkārasaṁyuttaṁ samattaṁ — “the Linked Discourses on possessions, honor, and popularity are complete” — the saṃyutta's own closing colophon, translated in full by the source.
The text
The full passage covering all six discourse numbers, exactly as preserved in the source, followed by the saṃyutta's own closing colophon. The chapter's own closing verse and the untranslated uddāna naming Catutthavagga's thirteen titles are not quoted here; see the reading guide above. Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0, SuttaCentral).
§1At Sāvatthī. “Possessions, honor, and popularity are grim, bitter, and harsh. They’re an obstacle to reaching the supreme sanctuary from the yoke. When I’ve comprehended the mind of a certain individual, I understand: ‘This venerable would not tell a deliberate lie even for the sake of their father.’ …” (Tell in full as in SN 17.37.) “‘… brother.’ …” “‘… sister.’ …” “‘… son.’ …” “‘… daughter.’ …” “‘… wife.’ But some time later I see them tell a deliberate lie because their mind is overcome and overwhelmed by possessions, honor, and popularity. So grim are possessions, honor, and popularity—bitter and harsh, an obstacle to reaching the supreme sanctuary from the yoke. So you should train like this: ‘We will give up arisen possessions, honor, and popularity, and we won’t let them occupy our minds.’ That’s how you should train.”
§2 · ColophonThe Linked Discourses on possessions, honor, and popularity are complete.
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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 six relationships does this block run through, completing SN 17.37's list?
Correct: A. Completing the family-threshold escalation SN 17.37 began with mother.
Question 2 of 10
How does the source instruct the reader to fill in most of this block's compressed items?
Correct: A. An explicit editorial instruction, unlike the silent elision used in SN 17.13-20.
Question 3 of 10
What relationship closes this list, and what does its underlying term literally suggest?
Correct: A. A relationship combining marital intimacy with, potentially, earlier bonds' protective instincts.
Question 4 of 10
How is this saṃyutta's closing colophon treated, compared to most closing material elsewhere in this collection?
Correct: A. Rendered in full, following the convention seen at the close of other completed saṃyuttas.
Question 5 of 10
What does the colophon state?
Correct: A. Marking the definitive close of the entire Lābhasakkārasaṃyutta.
Question 6 of 10
What numbering position does this block mark itself as?
Correct: A. The last of thirteen discourse-positions counted across Catutthavagga.
Question 7 of 10
How many levels of ending does this block mark in succession?
Correct: A. Terasamaṁ, then Catuttho vaggo, then the saṃyutta's own colophon, marked in succession.
Question 8 of 10
Is the uddāna verse naming Catutthavagga's thirteen titles translated in the source?
Correct: A. Untranslated, unlike the saṃyutta's own colophon which is rendered in full.
Question 9 of 10
Where does the Buddha deliver this teaching?
Correct: A. A return to the setting used throughout most of this saṃyutta.
Question 10 of 10
What discourse immediately precedes this closing block?
Correct: A. Completing the exact escalation SN 17.37 began.
