The first sutta of the Dígha Nikáya. It was preached to the paribbájaka Suppiya and his disciple Brahmadatta. It first explains the sílá, or moral precepts, in three successive sections cúla (concise), majjhima (medium), and mahá (elaborate) and then proceeds to set out in sixty two divisions various speculations and theories regarding the "soul" (D.i.46). Other names for it are Atthajála, Dhammajála, Ditthijála, and Sangámavijaya. At the end of the discourse the ten world systems trembled (D.i.46). It is said that once when Pinndapátiya Thera recited this sutta at the Kalyániya vihára, his mind concentrated on the Buddha, the earth trembled; the same phenomenon occurred when the Díghabhánaka Theras recited it at the Ambahtthiká, to the east of the Lohapásáda (DA.i.131).
The Brahmaj'ála was the first sutta preached in Suvannabhúmi, when Sona and Uttara visited it as missionaries (Mhv.xii.51).
The Sutta is often quoted, sometimes even in the Canon. E.g., S.iv. 286, 287.