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
★☆☆☆☆ — brief, mirroring SN 37.10 exactly
Why this discourse
This discourse reverses SN 37.10's own dussīla (unethical, of bad character) into susīla (ethical, of good character) — the exact quality and discourse number this project's own SN 37.10 reading guide named in advance, now confirmed. As a broad character disposition rather than a specific trait, susīla stands as the general ethical counterweight among this series' own nine reversed qualities.
Reading guide
A general disposition, not a specific behavior
Susīla names good moral character broadly, matching dussīla's own general framing at SN 37.10 rather than reversing any single specific act — the same level of generality on both sides of this particular mirror.
A confirmation of an earlier forward reference
This project's own SN 37.10 reading guide named susīla and SN 37.20 specifically as this quality's own positive counterpart and location — this discourse confirms that reference was accurate.
The precepts implicit here, explicit at SN 37.24
Susīla names ethical conduct in general terms; the vagga's own closing discourse (SN 37.24) will make this same underlying commitment explicit and specific, listing the five precepts by name rather than naming a character trait.
The sixth of nine, three from this series' own close
With this discourse, six of the nine bright-side counterparts are now confirmed, leaving three (bahussuta, āraddhavīriya, upaṭṭhitassati) before the vagga's own closing discourse.
Key terms
susīla — ethical, of good moral character — this discourse's own variable fifth quality, directly reversing SN 37.10's own dussīla
dussīla — unethical, of bad character — SN 37.10's own quality, reversed here
saddhā... hirimā... ottāpī... paññavā — the four fixed qualities, unchanged throughout this mirror series
dasamaṁ — “tenth” — this discourse's own untranslated closing marker, matching SN 37.10's own position
pañcasīla — the five precepts — the specific, named form of this same general ethical commitment, met at this vagga's own closing discourse, SN 37.24
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, ethical, 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
What does "susīla" name, and what does it reverse?
Correct: A. The same level of generality as dussīla's own broad framing at SN 37.10.
Question 2 of 5
Was this discourse's own quality and location anticipated in advance?
Correct: A. Confirming an earlier forward reference was accurate.
Question 3 of 5
How does this discourse's own general framing relate to SN 37.24's own closing discourse?
Correct: A. The general character trait here versus the specific, named precepts there.
Question 4 of 5
How many of the nine bright-side counterparts are confirmed by this discourse's own position in the series?
Correct: A. Bahussuta, āraddhavīriya, and upaṭṭhitassati remain ahead.
Question 5 of 5
What four fixed qualities anchor this discourse?
Correct: A. Unchanged throughout this entire mirror series.
