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SN 42 · 13 texts · 13 in English

Linked Discourses with Chiefs

Gāmaṇisaṁyutta

The “Linked Discourses with Chiefs” contains 13 discourses featuring various headmen or chiefs. They sometimes ask questions relating to their professions, from entertainers to warriors, while several discourses touch on familiar Dhamma themes, such as overcoming anger, the validity of brahmanical rites, or whether monastics should use money. Some of the chiefs are quite adversarial, aiming to trip up the Buddha in debate, or accusing him of being a magician. In the end, though, the Buddha’s compassionate and measured responses win them over.

The Chapter on Chiefs

Gāmaṇivagga
  • SN 42.1 FuryCaṇḍasutta

    A headman known for his aggressive nature approaches the Buddha and asks how to give up irritability. The Buddha points out that such reactions are fueled by greed, hate, and delusion.

  • SN 42.2 With TālapuṭaTālapuṭasutta

    Talapuṭa the head of a troupe of performers asks the Buddha whether the belief that performers have a good rebirth is correct. The Buddha tries to dissuade him, but ultimately reveals that by inciting lust they head to a bad rebirth. Talapuṭa is distressed and asks to ordain.

  • SN 42.3 A WarriorYodhājīvasutta

    Yodhājı̄va the professional warrior asks the Buddha whether the belief that warriors have a good rebirth is correct. The Buddha tries to dissuade him, but ultimately reveals that by following the way of violence they head to a bad rebirth. Yodhājı̄va is distressed and takes refuge.

  • SN 42.4 An Elephant MarshalHatthārohasutta

    Hatthāroha the elephant warrior asks the Buddha whether the belief that warriors have a good rebirth is correct. The Buddha tries to dissuade him, but ultimately reveals that by following the way of violence they head to a bad rebirth. Hatthāroha is distressed and takes refuge.

  • SN 42.5 A CavalrymanAssārohasutta

    Assāroha the cavalry warrior asks the Buddha whether the belief that warriors have a good rebirth is correct. The Buddha tries to dissuade him, but ultimately reveals that by following the way of violence they head to a bad rebirth. Assāroha is distressed and asks to ordain.

  • SN 42.6 With Asibandhaka’s SonAsibandhakaputtasutta

    The chief Asibandhakaputta asks whether the rituals advocated by the western brahmins can bring a person to heaven. The Buddha asserts that only good deeds can take you to a good rebirth, and rituals have no effect.

  • SN 42.7 The Simile of the FieldKhettūpamasutta

    The chief Asibandhakaputta asks the Buddha why, if he has equal compassion for all, he teaches some more than others. The Buddha answers with a simile of a field: a farmer knows to put most of their effort into the fertile land.

  • SN 42.8 A Horn BlowerSaṅkhadhamasutta

    The Buddha asks the chief Asibandhakaputta, a Jain, how Mahāvīra the Jain leader teaches his followers. He replies that you go to a rebirth depending on what you usually do. But the Buddha points out that even a killer only spends a small amount of time actually killing. The Buddha’s approach is to point out that deeds have results, and to encourage the abandoing of bad deeds and the adoption of good deeds.

  • SN 42.9 FamiliesKulasutta

    Mahāvīra asks Asibandhakaputta to refute the Buddha on behalf of the Jains. He suggests to try to trap the Buddha with a dilemma: he claims to have compassion for householders, yet visits them with a large Saṅgha in a time of scarcity. But the Buddha says no family has been harmed from this.

  • SN 42.10 With MaṇicūḷakaMaṇicūḷakasutta

    In Rājagaha, some in the royal court say Buddhist mendicants may accept offerings of money. Chief Maṇicūḷaka rebuts them, then visits the Buddha for confirmation. The Buddha categorically denies the accusation.

  • SN 42.11 With BhadrakaBhadrakasutta

    The chief Bhadraka asks the Buddha about the origin and ending of suffering, and the Buddha points out that a loss among Bhadraka’s own community would cause him suffering, due to his attachment.

  • SN 42.12 With RāsiyaRāsiyasutta

    The chief Rāsiya asks whether the Buddha completely rejects all forms of asceticism. The Buddha denies that this is the case, and explains what he means by the middle way in a lengthy disquisition, covering useful and useless forms of asceticism.

  • SN 42.13 With PāṭaliyaPāṭaliyasutta

    The chief Pāṭaliya asks whether the Buddha knows magic. He says he does—but that does not make him a magician.