Description

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

Uraga Vagga
Cula Vagga
Maha Vagga
Atthaka Vagga
Parayana Vagga

Some scholars believe that it describes the oldest of allBuddhist practices. Others such as Bhikkhu Bodhi and KR Normanagree that it contains much early material.

In the Chinese Buddhist canon, a version of the Atthakavagga hassurvived. Fragmentary materials from a Sanskrit version of theNipata also survive.