The eleventh sutta of the Mahā Vagga of the Suttanipāta. Taught, seven days after the first discourse, to Nālaka (q.v.), nephew of Asita. The sutta itself is a discourse on the practice of a recluse (Moneyya-paṭipadā), but there are twenty introductory verses (called Vatthugāthā) giving the story of Asita and Nālaka (SN.vs. 679-723; SNA.ii.501).

The sutta is also called Nālaka paṭipadā. (J.i.55).