Sutta Nipata

Sutta NipataBuddhist Sutra

The Sutta Nipata (literally, "Suttas falling down") is a Buddhist scripture, a sutta collection in the Khuddaka Nikaya, part of the Pali Canon of Theravada Buddhism. All its suttas, thought to originate from before the Buddha's parinibbana, consist largely of verse, though some also contain some prose. It is divided into five sections:

Uraga Vagga

Cula Vagga

Maha Vagga

Atthaka Vagga

Parayana Vagga

Some scholars believe that it describes the oldest of all Buddhist practices. Others such as Bhikkhu Bodhi and KR Norman agree that it contains much early material.

In the Chinese Buddhist canon, a version of the Atthakavagga has survived. Fragmentary materials from a Sanskrit version of the Nipata also survive.