SN 50.99–108 — Another Series on Floods, Etc.

Reading guide

The saṃyutta's own final discourse, confirmed by its own words

Confirmed by direct reading, this file's own closing line states plainly that the Balasaṁyutta itself is “the sixth” section — a book-level closing marker, ending this saṃyutta's own 108-discourse span (SN 50.1 through SN 50.108). This matches a consistent numbering sequence this project has now confirmed across three saṃyuttas: SN 48 named itself “the fourth,” SN 49 “the fifth,” and now SN 50 “the sixth.”

The same internal discrepancy, confirmed a second time

This project's own explicit observation: exactly as at SN 50.89-98 (where the header read “8” against a closing colophon of “9”), this file's own opening “0.2” header reads “9. Punaoghavagga,” while its own closing colophon reads “Oghavaggo dasamo” (“the Floods chapter, the TENTH”) — the identical off-by-one pattern, reported here again without resolution rather than assumed to be a one-off.

The five higher fetters, closing a third saṃyutta

Mirroring the higher-fetters discourse already met three times before (SN 48.115-124, SN 48.169-178, SN 49.45-54), this discourse gives the five higher fetters in full, now developed by the five powers with the removal-of-greed formula already established throughout this saṃyutta's own second half.

Key terms

uddhambhāgiyāni saṁyojanāni — “the higher fetters” — identical to this discourse's own three prior instances met earlier this session

pañca balāni bhāvetabbāni — “the five powers should be developed” — this saṃyutta's own governing subject, closing its own final discourse

Oghavaggo dasamo — “the Floods chapter, the tenth” — this file's own closing colophon, genuinely disagreeing with its own opening “9. Punaoghavagga” header

Balasaṁyuttaṁ chaṭṭhaṁ — “the Powers-Saṁyutta is the sixth” — this file's own final closing line, ending the entire saṃyutta at 108 discourses, consistent between Pāli and English

rāgavinayapariyosānaṁ dosavinayapariyosānaṁ mohavinayapariyosānaṁ — “culminating in the removal of greed, hate, and delusion” — this discourse's own closing formula

The text

Every genuinely translated fragment given in the consulted English source: the full closing discourse on the higher fetters, the closing uddāna, and the saṃyutta's own final closing line. Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0, SuttaCentral).

§1“Mendicants, there are five higher fetters. What five? Desire for rebirth in the realm of luminous form, desire for rebirth in the formless realm, conceit, restlessness, and ignorance. These are the five higher fetters. The five powers should be developed for the direct knowledge, complete understanding, finishing, and giving up of these five higher fetters. What five? A mendicant develops the powers of faith, energy, mindfulness, immersion, and wisdom, which culminate in the removal of greed, hate, and delusion. These five powers should be developed for the direct knowledge, complete understanding, finishing, and giving up of these five higher fetters.”

UddānaFloods, yokes, grasping, ties, and underlying tendencies, kinds of sensual stimulation, hindrances, aggregates, and fetters high and low. The Linked Discourses on the Powers is the sixth section.

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Self-check quiz

3 questions. Click an answer to see immediate feedback. No score is recorded — this is for your own checking.

Question 1 of 3

What does this file's own final closing line confirm?

Correct: A. "Balasaṁyuttaṁ chaṭṭhaṁ" — consistent between Pāli and English, following SN 48 (fourth) and SN 49 (fifth) in sequence.

Question 2 of 3

What internal discrepancy does this file repeat from SN 50.89-98?

Correct: A. Confirmed a second time, reported honestly rather than assumed to be a one-off.

Question 3 of 3

How does this discourse's own content compare to its three prior instances this session?

Correct: A. The same core discourse, closing a third saṃyutta this session (after SN 48 and SN 49).

Answered 0 of 3 · Correct 0

Another Series on Floods, Etc.

Why this discourse