The wanderer Vacchagotta questions the Buddha (by cross-reference)
Form
A single surviving line, identical in shape to SN 33.21–35
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 33.1–35
Why this discourse
The eighth diagnostic-verb cycle, using appaccupalakkhaṇa ("not differentiating") — a further intensified form of the same lakkh- root already seen at SN 33.26–30 and SN 33.31–35 — continuing the identical single-line compression.
Reading guide
A fourth consecutive cycle at this minimal shape
"At Sāvatthī. 'Vaccha, it is because of not differentiating form …'" — the same single-line compression, now confirmed across four consecutive cycles.
A third verb sharing the lakkh- root
Appaccupalakkhaṇa joins asallakkhaṇa (SN 33.26–30) and anupalakkhaṇa (SN 33.31–35) as a third near-synonym built on the same lakkh- root, with an added pati- and pacca- prefix intensifying the sense of close, careful discernment.
A cluster of related verbs within the larger set of eleven
This saṃyutta's eleven diagnostic verbs are not eleven unrelated words but include at least one visible cluster of etymologically related terms — a texture worth noticing even as the underlying diagnostic claim itself never varies.
Eighth of eleven diagnostic verbs
With this cycle, eight of eleven diagnostic verbs have now been applied, leaving only three more before SN 33.51–55's own final verb and this saṃyutta's own close.
Key terms
appaccupalakkhaṇa — not differentiating, or not closely discerning — the eighth of eleven near-synonymous diagnostic verbs
rūpa — form — the only aggregate named in this file's own single surviving line
anupalakkhaṇa — not detecting — the previous cycle's own diagnostic verb, sharing the same lakkh- root
lakkhaṇa — mark or characteristic — the shared root underlying this cluster of related verbs
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 differentiating 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 eighth of eleven near-synonymous diagnostic verbs.
Question 2 of 5
What root does this verb share with two earlier cycles' own verbs?
Correct: A. Joining asallakkhaṇa and anupalakkhaṇa as a third near-synonym built on this same root.
Question 3 of 5
What does this cluster of related verbs reveal about this saṃyutta's eleven diagnostic verbs?
Correct: A. A texture worth noticing even as the underlying diagnostic claim itself never varies.
Question 4 of 5
How many diagnostic verbs remain after this one?
Correct: A. Before SN 33.51–55's own final verb and this saṃyutta's own close.
Question 5 of 5
How many consecutive cycles has this saṃyutta now compressed to this exact single-line shape?
Correct: A. SN 33.21–25, 26–30, 31–35, and now 36–40.
