..It is said by most of the researchers that the fourth and fifth chapters in Sutta-nipata belong to the oldest ones, as mentioned before. As a matter of fact, some parts seem to have been inserted into the fourth and the fifth chapters later. Unless these doubtful parts are being excluded, it is getting difficult to approach what Buddha actually told.
..After Buddha died, the contents of Buddha’s words were classified logically and increased in volume. In other words, what Buddha actually described is compared to bones, which were fleshed out, and some further changes were made. For example, see how “the religious precepts” in 839 in the fourth chapter were being changed afterwards.

“Neither doctrine, nor upanisad and knowledge, Magandiya,” said Buddha.
“No religious precept, either. I don’t preach that we are purified by them. Neither do I preach that we are purified without doctrines, upanisad or knowledge. Abandon these and don’t take them. Be quiet and don’t be dependent. You should not be eager for your existence.” (sn.839)

..Regarding religious precepts, you should neither make your mind depend on “keeping them,” which means, on the contrary, that you should nor depend on “not needing religious precepts.”
..Reading the end part of 547 in the third chapter, you find as Buddha’s words; “…taking perfect religious precepts makes a monk practicing asceticism...” Judging from the fact that 839 in the fourth chapter lies in the older class, a series of sentences on and after 547 should have been added afterwards. Such changes in Sutta-nipata have been found, because Buddha’s death brought his disciples a problem; how to maintain sangha. For this reason some changes could have appeared like this. And sangha itself had changed into something for a monk to depend on. (Revised April 15, 2009)

..What on earth did Buddha talk? What is a data book except Sutta-nipata? Unless Sutta-nipata lies in the oldest position, you will be able to see “the passage of changes,” by checking the data before and after those days. The fourth and fifth chapters of Sutta-nipata are, however, the oldest of all the sutras that have ever existed. Due to this matters are quite different. All we can do is to look into the influence on Buddha’s thought by checking the data in the same period that Buddha lived in or the older data. In regard to upanisad, it is said that there had been “Brhadaranyaka Upanisad” and “Chandogya Upanisad” before Buddha was born. You should not forget that Buddha took a critical stance in a way on Brahman. Relation to upanisad will be stated later, including what “dharma” means. (Revised April 15, 2009)

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