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, part of an ongoing series
Why this discourse
This discourse continues the series opened at SN 37.6, swapping “jealous” (issukī) into the template's own fifth position. Bilara-data still gives both the opening and closing halves of the rebirth-consequence clause in full at this point in the series — the deeper compression that will affect the surrounding formula itself (not just the narrative frame) doesn't begin until SN 37.8's own closing clause and, more fully, SN 37.9 onward.
Reading guide
Jealousy, distinguished from the qualities on either side
Issukī (jealous, envious of others' success or possessions) is conceptually distinct from both kodhana's immediate anger (SN 37.5) and upanāhī's lingering grudge (SN 37.6) — envy directed outward at what others have, rather than resentment over a specific wrong.
Still fully spelled out, at this point in the series
This discourse's own opening and closing clauses remain complete, matching SN 37.6's own level of detail rather than the progressively deeper compression that begins at SN 37.8's own closing line.
A quality also named in Rahogatavagga's own compressed list
“Anissukī” (not jealous), the positive counterpart to this discourse's own issukī, will appear at SN 37.17 in Dutiyapeyyālavagga, this saṃyutta's own bright-side mirror of the entire fivefold series met here.
Third of nine, past the series' own opening pair
With SN 37.5's full narrative and SN 37.6's dropped frame already established, this discourse confirms the series' own settled rhythm: direct address to Anuruddha, one swapped term, otherwise unchanged.
Key terms
issukī — jealous, envious — this discourse's own variable fifth quality, directed at others' success or possessions
anissukī — “not jealous” — this quality's own positive counterpart, appearing ahead at SN 37.17 in this saṃyutta's own mirrored vagga
assaddha... ahirika... anottāpī... duppañña — the four fixed qualities, unchanged from SN 37.5 onward
sattamaṁ — “seventh” — this discourse's own untranslated closing marker
apāyaṁ duggatiṁ vinipātaṁ nirayaṁ upapajjati — “is reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell” — still given in full at this point in the series
The text
The complete discourse: the fivefold formula with "jealous" in the fifth position. Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0, SuttaCentral).
§1“… They’re faithless, shameless, imprudent, jealous, and witless. …”
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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 "issukī," this discourse's own variable fifth quality, mean?
Correct: A. Envy directed outward, distinct from kodhana's anger and upanāhī's lingering grudge.
Question 2 of 5
How complete is this discourse's own rebirth-consequence clause, compared to later discourses in the series?
Correct: A. Matching SN 37.6's own level of detail rather than the progressively deeper compression ahead.
Question 3 of 5
Where does this quality's positive counterpart appear in this saṃyutta?
Correct: A. Anissukī, "not jealous," as part of this saṃyutta's own mirrored fivefold series.
Question 4 of 5
What rhythm does this discourse confirm for the series as a whole?
Correct: A. Established across SN 37.5 and SN 37.6, now confirmed as the series' own settled pattern.
Question 5 of 5
What position does this discourse hold in the nine-discourse series?
Correct: A. Past the series' own opening pair, confirming its settled rhythm.
