Reading guide
A threefold list, not a fourfold one
Sensuality, desire to be reborn, and ignorance — this discourse's own complete list, confirmed by reading bilara-data directly; the fourth defilement (views) found in some other lists of the same name does not appear here.
Key terms
kāmāsavo, bhavāsavo, avijjāsavo — “the defilements of sensuality, desire to be reborn, and ignorance” — this discourse's own complete, threefold list
āvuso — “reverend, friend” — the reciprocal address term Jambukhādaka and Sāriputta use throughout this saṃyutta
pañhā — “question” — the recurring suffix naming every discourse's own Pali title throughout this saṃyutta
atthi... maggo atthi paṭipadā — “is there a path and a practice” — this saṃyutta's own recurring path-confirmation question, asked with only its object changing from SN 38.1 through SN 38.15
aṭṭhamaṁ — “eighth” — this discourse's own untranslated closing ordinal
The text
The portion of this discourse Sujato's own English translation renders. Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0, SuttaCentral).
§1“Reverend Sāriputta, they speak of this thing called ‘defilement’. What is defilement?” “Reverend, there are three defilements. The defilements of sensuality, desire to be reborn, and ignorance. These are the three defilements.” “But, reverend, is there a path and a practice for completely understanding these three defilements?” “There is.” …
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Self-check quiz
2 questions. Click an answer to see immediate feedback. No score is recorded — this is for your own checking.
Question 1 of 2
How many defilements (āsava) does this discourse name?
Correct: A. A threefold list, confirmed directly against bilara-data — narrower than some four-part lists of the same name found elsewhere.
Question 2 of 2
What does this reading guide caution about lists like this one?
Correct: A. A caution this saṃyutta's own header comment applies specifically to this discourse.