此经为《经集》〈大品〉第十一经，是佛陀初转法轮后第七日对仙人阿私陀之甥 Nālaka 所说，阐明沙门应有的修行之道，经前另附有讲述阿私陀与 Nālaka 故事的引言偈颂。

The eleventh discourse of the Mahā Vagga of the Suttanipāta, taught seven days after the Buddha’s first sermon to Nālaka, nephew of the seer Asita, on the practice proper to a recluse, preceded by introductory verses recounting the story of Asita and Nālaka.