Saṃyutta Nikāya
The Samyutta Nikaya is a Buddhist scripture, the third of the five nikayas, or collections, in the Sutta Pitaka, which is one of the "three baskets" that compose the Pali Tipitaka of Theravada Buddhism. Because of the abbreviated way parts of the text are written, the total number of suttas is unclear. The editor of the Pali Text Society edition of the text made it 2889, Bodhi in his translation has 2904, while the commentaries give 7762. A study by Rupert Gethin gives the totals for the Burmese and Sinhalese editions as 2854 and 7656, respectively, and his own calculation as 6696; he also says the total in the Thai edition is unclear. The suttas are grouped into five vaggas, or sections. Each vagga is further divided into samyuttas, or chapters, each of which in turn contains a group of suttas on a related topic.
Correspondence with the Saṃyukta Āgama
The Samyutta Nikaya corresponds to the Saṃyukta Āgama found in the Sutra Pitikas of various Sanskritic early Buddhists schools, fragments of which survive in Sanskrit and in Tibetan translation. A complete Chinese translation from the Sarvāstivādin recension appears in the Chinese Buddhist canon, where it is known as the Zá Ahánjīng ; meaning "the mixed agama". A comparison of the Sarvāstivādin, Kāśyapīya, and Theravadin texts reveals a considerable consistency of content, although each recension contains sutras/suttas not found in the others. The Collation and Annotation of Saṃyuktāgama makes further comparison.Dating
, a contemporary scholar monk, argues that the remarkable congruence of the various recensions suggests that the Samyutta Nikaya/Saṃyukta Āgama was the only collection to be finalized in terms of both structure and content in the pre-sectarian period.Translations
Full translations
- The Book of the Kindred Sayings, tr C. A. F. Rhys Davids & F. L. Woodward, 1917–30, 5 volumes, Bristol: Pali Text Society
- The Connected Discourses of the Buddha, tr Bhikkhu Bodhi, 2000, Wisdom Publications, Somerville, MA, ; the Pali Text Society also issues a private edition of this for members only, which is its preferred translation
- Bhikkhu Sujato, The “Linked” or “Connected” Discourses, 2018, and released into the public domain.
Selections
- anthology published by Buddhist Publication Society, Kandy, Sri Lanka
- Nidana Samyutta, published in Burma; reprinted Sri Satguru, Delhi
Divisions
| Vagga Name | Description | Samyutta Number |
| Part I. Sagatha-vagga | a collection of suttas containing verses, many shared by other parts of the Pali canon such as the Theragatha, Therigatha, Suttanipata, Dhammapada and the Jatakas. | SN 1-11 |
| Part II. Nidana-vagga | a collection of suttas primarily pertaining to causation | SN 12-21 |
| Part III. Khandha-vagga | a collection of suttas primarily pertaining to the five aggregates | SN 22-34 |
| Part IV. Salayatana-vagga | a collection of suttas primarily pertaining to the six sense bases, including the "Fire Sermon" | SN 35-44 |
| Part V. Maha-vagga | the largest - that is, - collection | SN 45. the Noble Eightfold Path |
| Part V. Maha-vagga | the largest - that is, - collection | SN 46. the Seven Factors of Enlightenment |
| Part V. Maha-vagga | the largest - that is, - collection | SN 47. the Four Establishment of Mindfulness |
| Part V. Maha-vagga | the largest - that is, - collection | SN 48. the Faculties |
| Part V. Maha-vagga | the largest - that is, - collection | SN 49. the Four Right Striving |
| Part V. Maha-vagga | the largest - that is, - collection | SN 50. the Five Powers |
| Part V. Maha-vagga | the largest - that is, - collection | SN 51. the Four Bases for Spiritual Power |
| Part V. Maha-vagga | the largest - that is, - collection | SN 52. Anuruddha discourses |
| Part V. Maha-vagga | the largest - that is, - collection | SN h 53. the Jhanas |
| Part V. Maha-vagga | the largest - that is, - collection | SN 54. Mindfulness of Breathing |
| Part V. Maha-vagga | the largest - that is, - collection | SN 55. Factors of Stream-entry |
| Part V. Maha-vagga | the largest - that is, - collection | SN 56. the Truths |