At Sāvatthī. Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati.

“Mendicants, suppose the water in the ocean dried up and evaporated except for two or three drops. “Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, mahāsamuddo parikkhayaṁ pariyādānaṁ gaccheyya, ṭhapetvā dve vā tīṇi vā udakaphusitāni.

What do you think, mendicants? Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, bhikkhave, Which is more: the water in the ocean that has dried up and evaporated, or the two or three drops left?” katamaṁ nu kho bahutaraṁ, yaṁ vā mahāsamudde udakaṁ parikkhīṇaṁ pariyādiṇṇaṁ yāni vā dve vā tīṇi vā udakaphusitāni avasiṭṭhānī”ti?

“Sir, the water in the ocean that has dried up and evaporated is certainly more. “Etadeva, bhante, bahutaraṁ mahāsamudde udakaṁ, yadidaṁ parikkhīṇaṁ pariyādiṇṇaṁ; The two or three drops left are tiny. appamattakāni dve vā tīṇi vā udakaphusitāni avasiṭṭhāni. Compared to the water in the ocean that has dried up and evaporated, it’s not nearly a hundredth, a thousandth, or a hundred thousandth part.” Neva satimaṁ kalaṁ upenti na sahassimaṁ kalaṁ upenti na satasahassimaṁ kalaṁ upenti mahāsamudde udakaṁ parikkhīṇaṁ pariyādiṇṇaṁ upanidhāya dve vā tīṇi vā udakaphusitāni avasiṭṭhānī”ti.

“In the same way, for a noble disciple, the suffering that’s over and done with is more …” “Evameva kho, bhikkhave …pe… dhammacakkhupaṭilābho”ti.

Aṭṭhamaṁ.