A single compressed sentence, closing the run of three named discourses
Length
<1 minute to read
Northern parallel
No individual parallel confirmed by this project's own check
Significance
★★★ — closes the run of three named discourses, addressed to this saṃyutta's own most frequently recurring named questioner
Why this discourse
Confirmed by direct reading, this discourse closes the run of three named discourses begun at SN 55.47, repeating the identical compressed structure for Mahānāma the Sakyan — by this project's own count, the individual named most often across this entire saṃyutta, already met at SN 55.21-22, SN 55.23, and SN 55.37.
Reading guide
Mahānāma's own recurring presence, confirmed by count
This project's own running tally: Mahānāma appears by name in at least five discourses across this saṃyutta so far (SN 55.21, 55.22, 55.23, 55.37, and now this discourse), confirming him as this saṃyutta's own most frequently recurring named lay questioner — more so than any other individual, including Anāthapiṇḍika.
A quiet close to this three-discourse sequence
Confirmed by direct reading, this discourse offers no new content of its own, closing the Nandiya-Bhaddiya-Mahānāma sequence exactly as it began: a bare narrative frame, then the compressed formula.
Key terms
mahānāmaṁ sakkaṁ bhagavā etadavoca — “the Buddha said to Mahānāma the Sakyan” — this discourse's own only new element, closing the three-name sequence
catūhi dhammehi samannāgato sotāpanno — “a noble disciple who has four things is a stream-enterer” — the compressed opening, identical to SN 55.47-48's own
… — the elision marking, standing in for the complete four-factor formula already given in full at SN 55.47
mahānāma — “Mahānāma” — by this project's own count, the most frequently recurring named lay questioner across this entire saṃyutta
kapilavatthusmiṁ — “at Kapilavatthu” — the unchanged setting, shared with SN 55.47 and SN 55.48
The text
Every genuinely translated fragment given in the consulted English source, which itself preserves the elision back to SN 55.47. Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0, SuttaCentral).
§1At Kapilavatthu. Seated to one side, the Buddha said to Mahānāma the Sakyan: “Mahānāma, a noble disciple who has four things is a stream-enterer …”
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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
How many times has this project now counted Mahānāma appearing by name across this saṃyutta, including this discourse?
Correct: A. This project's own running tally, confirming him as the saṃyutta's own most frequent named lay questioner.
Question 2 of 3
What role does this discourse play in the three-discourse sequence begun at SN 55.47?
Correct: A. Confirmed by direct reading — the sequence's own closing instance.
Question 3 of 3
What genuinely new content does this discourse add beyond SN 55.47-48?
Correct: A. Confirmed by direct comparison — a deliberate, minimal closing repetition.
