Index to the Suttas of the Saɱyutta Nikāya
Khandha Vagga,
Nāga Saɱyutta
III. Khandha Vagga
PTS: Saɱyutta Nikāya Volume 3, Khandha-Vagga ed. by M. Léon Feer, London: Pali Text Society 1890. The html formatted Pali Text Society edition of the Pali text.
BJT: Saɱyutta Nikāya Volume 3, Khandha-Vagga The Sri Lanka Buddha Jayanti Tripitaka Series Pali text.
The Pali text for individual suttas listed below is adapted from the Sri Lanka Buddha Jayanti Tripitaka Series [BJT], not from the PTS version. Each translation is linked to it's Pali version and to the PTS, Sister Upalavanna, Olds and where available to the ATI Bhk. Thanissaro translation, and each of these is in turn linked back to each of the others. Many, but not all have been checked against the Pali Text Society edition, and many have been reformatted to include the original Pali (and/or organizational) phrase and sentence breaks.
PTS: The Kindred Sayings on Elements, translated by Mrs. Rhys Davids assisted by F.L. Woodward,
WP: The Book of the Aggregates, translated by Bhikkhu Bodhi
BD: The translations of M. Olds
ATI: The translations of Bhikkhu Thanissaro and others originally located on Access to Insight.
I. Nāga Saɱyutta, III.240
PTS: The Kindred Sayings on Nagas, III.192
WP: Connected Discourses on Nagas, I.1020
1. Suddhika Suttaɱ, III.240
The Buddha describes the four ways Nagas are born in a scheme ranking them from lowest to highest in order of purity.
"According to Scheme," (Bhk. Bodhi's: Simple Version), Pali: Suddhika, derives from Suddhi = pure. So the idea is, according to this understanding, the simple, pure description of the various ways Nāgas come to birth. But the different sorts of birth can also be seen as a hierarchy going from the most involved form of birth (from egg) to the least involved (spontaneous). Since this is precisely the point of the next sutta, the translation's of Woodward and Bhk. Bodhi do not seem justified. So far this describes the four sorts of birth of all beings, not just Nāgas.
Two forms of rebirth are not familiar here: 'sweat-born' and 'spontaneous'. Woodward quotes commentary that states that the 'sweat-born' are born through the pores. Bhk. Bodhi translates 'saṅsedajā' as 'moisture-born'. Both definitions are in PED. Birth through the pores is recognized by science, but strictly speaking birth via moisture is not. Insects that appear to have been born via water have in fact been born via eggs. There is a certain sort of frog that gives birth through the pores. It is one of the most nausiating sights ever to be seen, but presumably in other species, was apparently considered of a higher sort than being born via an egg or womb. [EDIT: For a little more on the various sorts of birth and the Pali terms for such see MN 9, Horner, ns 14-17; where the commentator's or translator's understanding is birth from moisture.] The 'spontaneously-born' disappear from one place without undergoing death and re-appear in another place without undergoing birth. This is the form of rebirth of the non-returner, but it obviously applies to other sorts of beings as well. Imagine the case of the untamed, uneducated, untrained common meditator who conceives the wish to spy on someone as if a fly on the wall ... and, snap fingers, there he is. And fly-wit that he now is, it is no easy thing to return to human birth. Splat!
PTS: According to Scheme, III.192
WP: Simple Version, I.1020
2. Paṇītatara Suttaɱ III.240
The Buddha describes the four ways Nagas are born and describes a scheme ranking them from lowest to highest.
Woodward's abridgment (which I have corrected while unabridging using his words and style) messes up and duplicates the first rank in the last rank of the order. (I give his original rendering in a footnote.) Bhk. Bodhi has maintained the proper hierarchy and complete wording but does not follow the Pali order from worst to best in his construction. It's a small thing, and what is usually found in the English, but the original Pali is better for assisting the memory. I have done a translation which I believe both follows more closely the Pali and makes the order clear: The worst is egg-birth, followed by womb-birth, sweat-birth and best, spontaneous birth. This order, which is the usual Pali way of listing hierarchies, is maintained by the suttas that follow this one.
PTS: Pre-eminent, III.192
BD: Passing Superior, Olds, trans.
WP: Superior, I.1020
3. Uposatha Suttaɱ, III.241
A bhikkhu is told why some egg-born nagas keep the sabbath and escape the naga form.
PTS: Sabbath, III.192
WP: The Uposatha, I.1021
4. Dutiya Uposatha Suttaɱ, III.242
A bhikkhu is told why some womb-born nagas keep the sabbath and escape the naga form.
PTS: Sabbath 2, III.193
WP: 4-6: The Uposatha 2-4, I.1021
5. Tatiya Uposatha Suttaɱ, III.242
A bhikkhu is told why some sweat-born nagas keep the sabbath and escape the naga form.
PTS: Sabbath 3, III.193
6. Catuttha Uposatha Suttaɱ, III.242
A bhikkhu is told why some spontaneously-born nagas keep the sabbath and escape the naga form.
PTS: Sabbath 4, III.193
7. Paṭhama Tassa (aka Suta) Suttaɱ, III.243
A bhikkhu is told why some persons are reborn among egg-born nagas.
PTS: Hearsay (1), III.193
WP: He Has Heard, I.1021
8. Dutiya Tassa (aka Suta) Suttaɱ, III.243
A bhikkhu is told why some persons are reborn among womb-born nagas.
PTS: 8: Hearsay 2, III.194
WP: 8-10: He Has Heard 2-4, I.1021
9. Tatiya Tassa (aka Suta) Suttaɱ, III.244
A bhikkhu is told why some persons are reborn among sweat-born nagas.
PTS: 9: Hearsay 3, III.194
10. Catuttha Tassa (aka Suta) Suttaɱ, III.244
A bhikkhu is told why some persons are reborn among spontaneously-born nagas.
PTS: 10: Hearsay 4, III.194
11-20. Danupakara or Paṭhavma Dān'Upakārā Sutta Dasakaɱ or Aṇḍajadānūpakāra Sutta Dasakaɱ, III.244
Covering Suttas 11-20. A bhikkhu is told why some persons are reborn among egg-born nagas.
PTS: Supporters by Gifts, III.194
WP: With the Support of Giving, I.1021
11. Annadāyaka Aṇḍaja Suttaɱ
PTS: The Egg-born Food Giver
12. Pānadāyaka Aṇḍaja Suttaɱ
PTS: The Egg-born Drink Giver
13. Vatthadāyaka Aṇḍaja Suttaɱ
PTS: The Egg-born Clothing Giver
14. Yānadāyaka Aṇḍaja Suttaɱ
PTS: The Egg-born Carriage Giver
15. Mālādāyaka Aṇḍaja Suttaɱ
PTS: The Egg-born Flowers Giver
16. Gandhadāyaka Aṇḍaja Suttaɱ
PTS: The Egg-born Scents Giver
17. Vilepanadāyaka Aṇḍaja Suttaɱ
PTS: The Egg-born Ointment Giver
18. Seyyadāyaka Aṇḍaja Suttaɱ
PTS: The Egg-born Seat Giver
19. Āvasathadāyaka Aṇḍaja Suttaɱ
PTS: The Egg-born Lodging Giver
20. Padīpeyyadāyaka Aṇḍaja Suttaɱ
PTS: The Egg-born Lamps and Oil Giver
21-30. Danupakara (2) or Dutiya Dān'Upakārā Sutta Dasakaɱ or Jalābujadānūpakāra Sutta Dasakaɱ, III.244
Covering suttas 21-30. A bhikkhu is told why some persons are reborn among womb-born nagas.
PTS: Supporters by Gifts (2), III.194
21. Annadāyaka Jalābuja Suttaɱ
PTS: The Womb-born Food Giver
22. Pānadāyaka Jalābuja Suttaɱ
PTS: The Womb-born Drink Giver
23. Vatthadāyaka Jalābuja Suttaɱ
PTS: The Womb-born Clothing Giver
24. Yānadāyaka Jalābuja Suttaɱ
PTS: The Womb-born Carriage Giver
25. Mālādāyaka Jalābuja Suttaɱ
PTS: The Womb-born Flowers Giver
26. Gandhadāyaka Jalābuja Suttaɱ
PTS: The Womb-born Scents Giver
27. Vilepanadāyaka Jalābuja Suttaɱ
PTS: The Womb-born Ointment Giver
28. Seyyadāyaka Jalābuja Suttaɱ
PTS: The Womb-born Seat Giver
29. Āvasathadāyaka Jalābuja Suttaɱ
PTS: The Womb-born Lodging Giver
30. Padīpeyyadāyaka Jalābuja Suttaɱ
PTS: The Womb-born Lamps and Oil Giver
31-40. Tatiya Dān'Upakārā Sutta Dasakaɱ or Saṅsedajadānūpakāra Sutta Dasakaɱ, III.244
Covering suttas 31-40. A bhikkhu is told why some persons are reborn among sweat-born nagas.
PTS: Supporters by Gifts (3), III.194
31. Annadāyaka Saṅsedaja Suttaɱ
PTS: The Sweat-born Food Giver
32. Pānadāyaka Saṅsedaja Suttaɱ
PTS: The Sweat-born Drink Giver
33. Vatthadāyaka Saṅsedaja Suttaɱ
PTS: The Sweat-born Clothing Giver
34. Yānadāyaka Saṅsedaja Suttaɱ
PTS: The Sweat-born Carriage Giver
35. Mālādāyaka Saṅsedaja Suttaɱ
PTS: The Sweat-born Flowers Giver
36. Gandhadāyaka Saṅsedaja Suttaɱ
PTS: The Sweat-born Scents Giver
37. Vilepanadāyaka Saṅsedaja Suttaɱ
PTS: The Sweat-born Ointment Giver
38. Seyyadāyaka Saṅsedaja Suttaɱ
PTS: The Sweat-born Seat Giver
39. Āvasathadāyaka Saṅsedaja Suttaɱ
PTS: The Sweat-born Lodging Giver
40. Padīpeyyadāyaka Saṅsedaja Suttaɱ
PTS: The Sweat-born Lamps and Oil Giver
41-50. Catuttha Dān'Upakārā Sutta Dasakaɱ or Opapātikadānūpakāra Sutta Dasakaɱ, III.244
Covering suttas 41-50. A bhikkhu is told why some persons are reborn among spontaneously-born nagas.
PTS: Supporters by Gifts (4), III.194
41. Annadāyaka Opapātika Suttaɱ
PTS: The Born without Parents Food Giver
42. Pānadāyaka Opapātika Suttaɱ
PTS: The Born without Parents Drink Giver
43. Vatthadāyaka Opapātika Suttaɱ
PTS: The Born without Parents Clothing Giver
44. Yānadāyaka Opapātika Suttaɱ
PTS: The Born without Parents Carriage Giver
45. Mālādāyaka Opapātika Suttaɱ
PTS: The Born without Parents Flowers Giver
46. Gandhadāyaka Opapātika Suttaɱ
PTS: The Born without Parents Scents Giver
47. Vilepanadāyaka Opapātika Suttaɱ
PTS: The Born without Parents Ointment Giver
48. Seyyadāyaka Opapātika Suttaɱ
PTS: The Born without Parents Seat Giver
49. Āvasathadāyaka Opapātika Suttaɱ
PTS: The Born without Parents Lodging Giver
50. Padīpeyyadāyaka Opapātika Suttaɱ
PTS: The Born without Parents Lamps and Oil Giver