The same fivefold template, compressed to a single line
Length
Under 1 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
★☆☆☆☆ — as brief as this series' own bright side gets
Why this discourse
This discourse reverses SN 37.8's own maccharī (stingy) into amaccharī (free of stinginess, generous), compressed here to a single translated line — from this point in the series, bilara-data's own translation preserves only the core fivefold clause itself, with everything else assumed from SN 37.15's own full version.
Reading guide
A single line carrying the whole discourse
Unlike SN 37.16 and SN 37.17, which still preserved multiple segments even under compression, this discourse's own translated content consists of exactly one line — the fivefold clause itself, with nothing else surviving compression.
Generosity as the reversal of a financial failing
Amaccharī reverses maccharī's own stinginess, the only one of this series' nine dark-side qualities tied specifically to material generosity rather than emotional temperament, ethical conduct, or learning.
A quality already met, in a different structural role
As with maccharī's own earlier appearance at SN 37.4 (one of three qualities mapped to the morning), this quality's positive form doesn't appear as a standalone reversal of that earlier discourse — SN 37.4 has no direct mirror in this vagga at all, since this vagga mirrors only the fixed-template series (SN 37.5–14), not SN 37.1–4.
The fourth of nine, at this series' own shortest form
This discourse's own minimal length matches the compression floor SN 37.10 reached in the dark-side series — the bright-side mirror settles into its own shortest form somewhat earlier in its own sequence.
Key terms
amaccharī — free of stinginess, generous — this discourse's own variable fifth quality, directly reversing SN 37.8's own maccharī
maccharī — stingy — SN 37.8's own quality, reversed here, and also met earlier at SN 37.4 in a different structural role
saddhā... hirimā... ottāpī... paññavā — the four fixed qualities, unchanged throughout this mirror series
aṭṭhamaṁ — “eighth” — this discourse's own untranslated closing marker, matching SN 37.8's own position
…pe… — the peyyāla marker, here compressing the discourse to a single surviving translated line
The text
The complete translated content of this discourse — a single line, the fivefold clause itself. Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0, SuttaCentral).
§1“… They’re faithful, conscientious, prudent, free of stinginess, and wise. …”
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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
How much translated content does this discourse preserve, compared to SN 37.16 and SN 37.17?
Correct: A. The compression's own next stage, reducing the discourse to its bare essential clause.
Question 2 of 5
What does "amaccharī" name, and what does it reverse?
Correct: A. The only one of the nine qualities tied specifically to material generosity.
Question 3 of 5
Does SN 37.4 (where maccharī was mapped to the morning) have a direct mirror in this vagga?
Correct: A. This vagga's own mirror series specifically reverses SN 37.5-13's fixed template, not the earlier discourses.
Question 4 of 5
How does this discourse's own length compare to the dark-side series' own compression floor?
Correct: A. The bright-side mirror settles into its shortest form earlier than its dark-side counterpart did.
Question 5 of 5
What position does this discourse hold in its own mirror series?
Correct: A. Continuing the exact lockstep numbering with the dark-side series.
