Samyutta Nikaya
The Grouped Discourses

Quick links to the individual sections (vaggas) and chapters (samyuttas):

Sagatha Vagga:
Nidana Vagga:
Khandha Vagga:
Salayatana Vagga:
Maha Vagga:

The Samyutta Nikaya, the third division of the Sutta Pitaka, contains 2,889 suttas grouped into five sections (vaggas). Each vagga is further divided into samyuttas, each of which in turn contains a group of suttas on related topics. The samyuttas are named according to the topics of the suttas they contain. For example, the Kosala Samyutta (in the Sagatha Vagga) contains suttas concerning King Pasenadi of Kosala; the Vedana Samyutta (in the Salayatana Vagga) contains suttas concerning feeling (vedana); and so on.

An excellent modern print translation of the complete Samyutta Nikaya is Bhikkhu Bodhi's The Connected Discourses of the Buddha: A New Translation of the Samyutta Nikaya (Boston: Wisdom Publications, 2000; originally published in two volumes, but now available in a single volume). A fine anthology of selected suttas is Handful of Leaves (Vol. 2), by Thanissaro Bhikkhu (distributed by the Sati Center for Buddhist Studies).

The suttas are numbered here by samyutta (chapter) and sutta, with the suttas numbered sequentially from the start of each samyutta, using as a guide the Rhys Davis & Woodward PTS English translations of the Samyutta Nikaya (The Book of the Kindred Sayings). The braces {} that follow each sutta and samyutta title contain the corresponding volume and starting page number, first in the PTS romanized Pali edition of the Samyutta Nikaya, then in Bhikkhu Bodhi's Connected Discourses of the Buddha ("CDB"). The translator appears in the square brackets [].

See also this handy table for converting between traditional (DPR, CSCD) and modern (ATI, CDB) samyutta numbering systems.

Sagatha Vagga — The Section of Verses   

Samyutta:

1. Devata-samyutta — Devas   

2. Devaputta-samyutta — Sons of the Devas   

3. Kosala-samyutta — King Pasenadi of Kosala   

4. Mara-samyutta — Mara   

Stories of Mara's attempts to outwit the Buddha.

5. Bhikkhuni-samyutta — Nuns   

Stories of Mara's attempts to lure the nuns away from their meditation spots in the forest by asking them provocative questions. Without exception, these wise women conquer Mara decisively.

6. Brahma-samyutta — Brahma deities   

7. Brahmana-samyutta — Brahmans   

8. Vangisa-samyutta — Ven. Vangisa   

9. Vana-samyutta — The forest   

10. Yakkha-samyutta — Yakkha demons   

11. Sakka-samyutta — Sakka (the Deva king)   

Nidana Vagga — The Section on Causation   

Samyutta:

12. Nidana-samyutta — Paticcasamuppada (dependent co-arising)   

13. Abhisamaya-samyutta — Realization   

14. Dhatu-samyutta — Elements   

15. Anamatagga-samyutta — The unimaginable beginnings of samsara   

16. Kassapa-samyutta — Ven. Maha Kassapa   

17. Labhasakkara-samyutta — Gains and tribute   

18. Rahula-samyutta — Ven. Rahula   

19. Lakkhana-samyutta — Ven. Lakkhana   

20. Opamma-samyutta — Comparisons   

21. Bhikkhu-samyutta — Monks   

Khandha Vagga — The Section on the Aggregates   

Samyutta:

22. Khandha-samyutta — The clinging-aggregates   

23. Radha-samyutta — Ven. Radha   

24. Ditthi-samyutta — Views   

25. Okkanta-samyutta — Entering   

In this samyutta the Buddha explains the kinds of conviction and understanding that are required for the attainment of stream-entry. These short suttas share an identical structure, with each one focusing on a different aspect of experience (including the six senses, the six elements (dhatu), and the five aggregates). See also the Study Guides on stream-entry.

26. Uppada-samyutta — Arising   

27. Kilesa-samyutta — Defilements   

  • SN 27.1-10: Upakkilesa Samyutta — Defilements {S iii 232; CDB i 1012} [Thanissaro].
    These ten suttas explain why it is worth abandoning desire that is associated with: (1) the six sense bases; (2) their objects; (3) consciousness; (4) contact; (5) feeling; (6) perception; (7) intentions; (8) craving; (9) the six elements (earth, liquid, fire, wind, space, and consciousness); and (10) the five aggregates.

28. Sariputta-samyutta — Ven. Sariputta   

29. Naga-samyuttaNagas   

30. Supanna-samyuttaGarudas   

31. Gandhabbakaya-samyutta — Gandhabba devas   

32. Valahaka-samyutta — Rain-cloud devas   

33. Vacchagotta-samyutta — Ven. Vacchagotta   

34. Jhana-samyutta — Concentration   

Salayatana Vagga — The Section on the Six Sense Bases   

Samyutta:

35. Salayatana-samyutta — The six senses   

36. Vedana-samyutta — Feeling   

37. Matugama-samyutta — Destinies of women   

  • SN 37.4: Vaddha Sutta — Growth {S iv 250; CDB ii 1293} [Thanissaro].
    This brief sutta, which encourages education for women, may account for the fact that in the pre-modern world Theravada Buddhist countries had the highest rates of female literacy. [TB]

38. Jambhukhadaka-samyutta — Jambhukhadaka the wanderer   

39. Samandaka-samyutta — Samandaka the wanderer   

40. Moggallana-samyutta — Ven. Moggallana   

41. Citta-samyutta — Citta the householder   

42. Gamani-samyutta — Village headmen   

43. Asankhata-samyutta — The unfashioned (Nibbana)   

44. Avyakata-samyutta — Undeclared   

See Thanissaro Bhikkhu's Introduction to this samyutta.

Maha Vagga — The Great Section   

Samyutta:

45. Magga-samyutta — The Noble Eightfold Path   

46. Bojjhanga-samyutta — The Seven Factors for Awakening   

[See "The Seven Factors for Awakening" in The Wings to Awakening.]

47. Satipatthana-samyutta — The Four Frames of Reference (Foundations of Mindfulness)   

[See "The Four Frames of Reference" in The Wings to Awakening.]

48. Indriya-samyutta — The Five Mental Faculties   

[See "The Five Faculties" in The Wings to Awakening.]

49. Sammappadhana-samyutta — The Four Right Exertions   

[See "The Four Right Exertions" in The Wings to Awakening.]

50. Bala-samyutta — The Five Strengths   

[See "The Five Strengths" in The Wings to Awakening.]

51. Iddhipada-samyutta — The Four Bases of Power   

[See "The Four Bases of Power" in The Wings to Awakening.]

52. Anuruddha-samyutta — Ven. Anuruddha   

53. Jhana-samyutta — Jhana (mental absorption)   

54. Anapana-samyutta — Mindfulness of breathing   

55. Sotapatti-samyutta — Stream-entry   

56. Sacca-samyutta — The Four Noble Truths   

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