The Connected Āgama Sūtras

A Translation of the Saṃyuktāgama Sūtra

Taishō no. 99
Translated by Guṇabhadra (c. 435–443)

Śāstra Commentary from the Yogācārabhūmi Śāstra
Translated by Xuanzang (c. 646-648)

Translations into English by Shaku Shingan (2024~)
based on
Yinshun, ed., The Saṃyuktāgama Sūtra-Śāstra Combined Edition (1981)

Regarding the sūtra numbering system (in the format 1; 1 (1)), the first number given is the number of the sūtra within the connected discourse (saṃyukta) in question. The second number is the number in the entire Connected Āgama Sūtras from the first to the last connected discourse. The final number is the original number found in the Taishō edition, which was corrected by Yinshun (1981). Yinshun revised the ordering of the entire collection based on his research that found that the Yogācārabhūmi Śāstra revealed the original structure: sūtra, or discourse (first to fourth recitations), geya, or discourses with summary verses (fifth recitation), and vyākaraṇa, or discourses of explanation spoken by disciples or the Buddha (recitations 6-7). Consequently, Yinshun also includes the Yogācārabhūmi Śāstra commentary in his re-edition of the collection, which serves as a clarification of content and structure. It is worth noting that the other āgama sūtras developed from the Connected Āgama Sūtras as a kernel in the order Longer (Dīrgha) Āgama Sūtras, Middle-length (Madhyama) Āgama Sūtras, and Increasing-by-One (Ekottarika) Āgama Sūtras. Other collections of sūtras (e.g. Vaipulya/Mahāyāna sūtras) developed thereafter from these as the kernel, as did scholastic elaborations (Abhidharma), drawing out the implications of the Buddha's words further.