Ru-Yi Meditation Center
Saṃyutta Nikāya · Discourse 56.55

The Earth (1st)

Paṭhamamahāpathavīsutta — Abhisamayavagga

Setting
Not given — continuing directly from SN 56.54's own setting
Speaker
The Buddha, addressing the mendicants directly
Form
A comparative question, its own answer, then the application elided back to SN 56.51
Length
<1 minute to read
Northern parallel
No individual parallel confirmed by this project's own check
Significance
★★ — the fifth of ten discourses, opening this vagga's own second addition/erosion pair with SN 56.56

Why this discourse

Confirmed by direct reading, this discourse compares seven clay balls the size of jujube seeds placed on the great earth to the earth itself — opening this vagga's own second addition/erosion pair (SN 56.55-56), following the same structure already established with the river confluence at SN 56.53-54.

Reading guide

A number that will recur throughout this vagga

This project's own reading: the number seven, already meaningful in this saṃyutta as the fixed upper limit on a stream-enterer's own remaining lives (sattakkhattuparamatā), now also becomes the fixed count of small objects placed or remaining in this vagga's own comparative images — seven pebbles at SN 56.49-50 and SN 56.59-60, seven clay balls here and at SN 56.56, this project notes without overclaiming a deliberate numerological link the discourses themselves do not state explicitly.

Key terms

mahāpathaviyā satta kolaṭṭhimattiyo guḷikā upanikkhipeyya — “place seven clay balls the size of jujube seeds on the great earth” — this discourse's own central image
kolaṭṭhi — “jujube seed” — the small fruit-seed giving this discourse's own clay balls their own size reference
guḷikā — “clay balls, pellets” — the small objects placed on the earth
… — the elision marking, standing in for the full application already given at SN 56.51
pañcamaṁ — “the fifth” — this discourse's own root text confirming its own position directly, read rather than assumed

The text

Every genuinely translated fragment given in the consulted English source, which itself preserves the elision back to SN 56.51's own full statement. Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0, SuttaCentral).

§1“Mendicants, suppose a person was to place seven clay balls the size of jujube seeds on the great earth. What do you think, mendicants? Which is more: the seven clay balls the size of jujube seeds, or the great earth?” “Sir, the great earth is certainly more. The seven clay balls the size of jujube seeds are tiny. Compared to the great earth, they don’t count, there’s no comparison, they’re not worth a fraction.” “In the same way, for a noble disciple … That’s why you should practice meditation …”

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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 discourse compare to the great earth?
Correct: A. Confirmed by direct reading — the discourse's own specific comparative image.
Question 2 of 3
What number does this project's own reading note recurs throughout this vagga's own comparative images?
Correct: A. This project's own noted pattern, offered without overclaiming an explicit numerological statement in the text.
Question 3 of 3
What position does this discourse occupy in this vagga's own ten-discourse sequence?
Correct: A. Confirmed by direct reading of the root text's own closing marker "Pañcamaṁ" ("fifth").
Answered 0 of 3 · Correct 0

Further reading

← PreviousSN 56.54 · Where the Waters Join Together (2nd)