The wanderer Vacchagotta questions the Buddha (by cross-reference)
Form
A single surviving line, identical in shape to SN 33.21–25
Length
under a 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
★☆☆☆☆ — understood only alongside SN 33.1–25
Why this discourse
The sixth diagnostic-verb cycle, using asallakkhaṇa ("not distinguishing") in place of appaṭivedha ("not penetrating"), compressed to the identical single-line shape as SN 33.21–25 — confirming this minimal compression is now this saṃyutta's own standing convention for its middle cycles, not a one-time reduction.
Reading guide
The identical minimal shape, a second time
"At Sāvatthī. 'Vaccha, it is because of not distinguishing form …'" — word for word the same compression as SN 33.21–25, with only the diagnostic verb changed.
Confirming a standing convention, not an isolated case
With two consecutive cycles now compressed to this exact single line, the extreme brevity first seen at SN 33.21–25 is confirmed as this saṃyutta's own standard shape for its middle stretch of cycles, not an isolated one-off reduction.
Sixth of eleven diagnostic verbs
Asallakkhaṇa ("not distinguishing") is the sixth verb in this saṃyutta's own sequence, with four further near-synonyms still to come before SN 33.51–55's own final verb and this saṃyutta's own close.
A cycle worth reading for its own repetition
As with earlier brief peyyāla stubs elsewhere in this project's coverage, this file's real interest lies precisely in its sameness: the compiler evidently judged each diagnostic verb worth its own discourse-range despite changing nothing else at all.
Key terms
asallakkhaṇa — not distinguishing, or not discerning — the sixth of eleven near-synonymous diagnostic verbs
rūpa — form — the only aggregate named in this file's own single surviving line
appaṭivedha — not penetrating — the previous cycle's own diagnostic verb, replaced here by asallakkhaṇa
peyyāla — an elision mark — here compressing an entire five-discourse cycle to a single line
hetu — cause — the diagnostic frame's own recurring opening word, implied here though not restated
The text
The discourse exactly as the source preserves it: a single surviving line. Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0, SuttaCentral).
§1At Sāvatthī. “Vaccha, it is because of not distinguishing form …”
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Self-check quiz
5 questions. Click an answer to see immediate feedback. No score is recorded — this is for your own checking.
Question 1 of 5
What diagnostic verb does this cycle use?
Correct: A. The sixth of eleven near-synonymous diagnostic verbs.
Question 2 of 5
How does this file's compression compare to SN 33.21–25's own?
Correct: A. Confirming this minimal shape as a standing convention, not an isolated reduction.
Question 3 of 5
What does this file's own consistency confirm about this saṃyutta's middle cycles?
Correct: A. Two consecutive cycles now compressed to this exact single line.
Question 4 of 5
How many diagnostic verbs remain after this one?
Correct: A. Four further near-synonyms before SN 33.51–55's own final verb and this saṃyutta's own close.
Question 5 of 5
Where does this reading guide say this file's real interest lies?
Correct: A. Comparable to earlier brief peyyāla stubs elsewhere in this project's coverage.
