The wanderer Vacchagotta questions the Buddha (by cross-reference)
Form
A single surviving line, identical in shape to SN 33.21–30
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 33.1–30
Why this discourse
The seventh diagnostic-verb cycle, using anupalakkhaṇa ("not detecting") in place of asallakkhaṇa ("not distinguishing"), continuing the identical single-line compression already established at SN 33.21–30.
Reading guide
A third consecutive cycle at this minimal shape
"At Sāvatthī. 'Vaccha, it is because of not detecting form …'" — the same single-line compression, now confirmed across three consecutive cycles.
Anupalakkhaṇa, a close cousin of asallakkhaṇa
The Pāli terms for "not distinguishing" (asallakkhaṇa) and "not detecting" (anupalakkhaṇa) share the same root (lakkh-, "to mark" or "characterize"), illustrating how closely these eleven diagnostic verbs cluster in meaning even as each receives its own discourse-range.
Seventh of eleven diagnostic verbs
With this cycle, seven of this saṃyutta's eleven diagnostic verbs have now been applied across all five aggregates, leaving four more still to come.
This project's own practice, held consistently
As at SN 33.21–30, this discourse's extreme brevity is quoted here exactly as the source gives it rather than expanded into invented prose.
Key terms
anupalakkhaṇa — not detecting, or not marking — the seventh of eleven near-synonymous diagnostic verbs
rūpa — form — the only aggregate named in this file's own single surviving line
asallakkhaṇa — not distinguishing — the previous cycle's own diagnostic verb, sharing the same root as anupalakkhaṇa
lakkhaṇa — mark or characteristic — the shared root underlying both asallakkhaṇa and anupalakkhaṇa
peyyāla — an elision mark — here compressing an entire five-discourse cycle to a single line
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 detecting 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 seventh of eleven near-synonymous diagnostic verbs.
Question 2 of 5
What do asallakkhaṇa and anupalakkhaṇa share?
Correct: A. Illustrating how closely these eleven diagnostic verbs cluster in meaning.
Question 3 of 5
How many consecutive cycles has this saṃyutta now compressed to a single line?
Correct: A. Confirming this minimal shape as a genuine standing convention.
Question 4 of 5
How many diagnostic verbs remain after this one?
Correct: A. Seven of eleven now confirmed across all five aggregates.
Question 5 of 5
What does this reading guide do with this file's extreme brevity?
Correct: A. Held consistently across every compressed cycle in this saṃyutta.
