Mahāvagga

Collections of Minor Discourses

Collections of sutta texts outside the four main collections.

Pabbajjāsutta

Snp 3.1
The Going Forth

The young Bodhisatta (Buddha-to-be), soon after leaving home, explains why he refuses King Bimbisāra's offer of a position in his court.

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Padhānasutta

Snp 3.2
Striving

Māra attempts to dissuade the Bodhisatta from his path.

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Subhāsitasutta

Snp 3.3
Well-Spoken Words

Four characteristics of well-spoken speech.

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Pūraḷāsa (sundarikabhāradvāja) sutta

Snp 3.4
With Bhāradvāja of Sundarika on the Sacrificial Cake

A brahman questions the Buddha to see if the latter deserves to receive the cake resulting from his sacrifice.

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Māghasutta

Snp 3.5
With Māgha on Giving

What are the qualities of a recipient that produce the most merit from a gift?

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Sabhiyasutta

Snp 3.6
Sabhiya’s Questions

A sutta dating from early in the Buddha's teaching career. A wanderer, disappointed in the teachings he has received from other teachers, approaches the Buddha with his questions.

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Selasutta

Snp 3.7
With Sela

Sela the brahman praises the Buddha to see how the latter responds to praise.

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Sallasutta

Snp 3.8
The Dart

Death and loss are inevitable, but grief is not.

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Vāseṭṭhasutta

Snp 3.9
With Vāseṭṭha

Is one worthy of respect because of one's birth, or because of one's actions?

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Kokālikasutta

Snp 3.10
To Kokāliya on the Results of Slander

A follower of Devadatta slanders Ven. Sāriputta and Ven. Moggallāna and, after suffering a painful disease, falls into hell. The sutta then gives a graphic description of the sufferings awaiting him there.

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Nālakasutta

Snp 3.11
The Sages Asita and Nālaka

A sutta in two parts. The first part gives an account of events soon after the birth of the Bodhisatta. The second part describes the way of the sage.

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Dvayatānupassanāsutta

Snp 3.12
Contemplating Pairs

Not all dualities are misleading. This sutta teaches ways to contemplate the duality of the origination and cessation of stress and suffering so as to reach awakening.

Translations

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