The wanderer Vacchagotta questions the Buddha (by cross-reference)
Form
A single surviving line, closing the run of six identically compressed cycles begun at 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 33.1–45
Why this discourse
The tenth diagnostic-verb cycle, using appaccupekkhaṇa ("not scrutinizing") — sharing SN 33.41–45's own ikkh- root, forming this saṃyutta's second small etymological cluster — and closing the run of six consecutive cycles compressed to an identical single-line shape before SN 33.51–55's own final verb restores somewhat fuller content.
Reading guide
The identical minimal shape, a sixth and final time
"At Sāvatthī. 'Vaccha, it is because of not scrutinizing form …'" — the same single-line compression, closing a run of six consecutive cycles compressed identically.
Completing the second etymological cluster
Appaccupekkhaṇa shares SN 33.41–45's own ikkh- root, confirming this saṃyutta's second small cluster of two related verbs, distinct from the earlier three-verb lakkh- cluster at SN 33.26–40.
Tenth of eleven diagnostic verbs
With this cycle, ten of eleven diagnostic verbs have now been applied across all five aggregates, leaving only appaccakkhakamma ("not directly experiencing") to close this saṃyutta at SN 33.51–55.
A shift in compression still to come
SN 33.51–55 will restore somewhat fuller content than this run of six minimal cycles — the saṃyutta's own final verb receiving Vacchagotta's full greeting-and-approach scene once more, before this saṃyutta's own colophon.
Key terms
appaccupekkhaṇa — not scrutinizing, or not closely surveying — the tenth of eleven near-synonymous diagnostic verbs
rūpa — form — the only aggregate named in this file's own single surviving line
asamapekkhaṇa — not examining — the previous cycle's own diagnostic verb, sharing this same ikkh- root
appaccakkhakamma — not directly experiencing — the eleventh and final diagnostic verb, closing this saṃyutta at SN 33.51–55
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 scrutinizing 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 tenth of eleven near-synonymous diagnostic verbs.
Question 2 of 5
What root does this cycle's verb share with SN 33.41–45's own?
Correct: A. Confirming this saṃyutta's second small cluster of two related verbs.
Question 3 of 5
How many consecutive cycles does this file close out at the identical single-line compression?
Correct: A. The longest run of identically compressed cycles in this saṃyutta.
Question 4 of 5
What single diagnostic verb remains after this cycle?
Correct: A. Closing this saṃyutta at SN 33.51–55.
Question 5 of 5
What does this reading guide say will happen to the compression level at SN 33.51–55?
Correct: A. The saṃyutta's own final verb receives fuller treatment before its own colophon.
