1.1Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati.At Sāvatthī.

1.2“Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, yatthimā mahānadiyo saṁsandanti samenti, seyyathidaṁ—“Mendicants, there are places where the great rivers—the Ganges, Yamunā, Aciravatī, Sarabhū, and Mahī—join together and converge.¹1.3gaṅgā yamunā aciravatī sarabhū mahī, taṁ udakaṁ parikkhayaṁ pariyādānaṁ gaccheyya ṭhapetvā dve vā tīṇi vā udakaphusitāni.Suppose that water dried up and evaporated except two or three drops.

1.4Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, bhikkhave,What do you think, mendicants?1.5katamaṁ nu kho bahutaraṁ, yaṁ vā sambhejjaudakaṁ parikkhīṇaṁ pariyādiṇṇaṁ yāni vā dve vā tīṇi vā udakaphusitāni avasiṭṭhānī”ti?Which is more: the water in the confluence that has dried up and evaporated, or the two or three drops left?”

2.1“Etadeva, bhante, bahutaraṁ sambhejjaudakaṁ yadidaṁ parikkhīṇaṁ pariyādiṇṇaṁ;“Sir, the water in the confluence that has dried up and evaporated is certainly more.2.2appamattakāni dve vā tīṇi vā udakaphusitāni avasiṭṭhāni.The two or three drops left are tiny.2.3Neva satimaṁ kalaṁ upenti na sahassimaṁ kalaṁ upenti na satasahassimaṁ kalaṁ upenti sambhejjaudakaṁ parikkhīṇaṁ pariyādiṇṇaṁ upanidhāya dve vā tīṇi vā udakaphusitāni avasiṭṭhānī”ti.Compared to the water in the confluence that has dried up and evaporated, it’s not nearly a hundredth, a thousandth, or a hundred thousandth part.”

2.4“Evameva kho, bhikkhave …pe…“In the same way, for a noble disciple, the suffering that’s over and done with is more …”2.5dhammacakkhupaṭilābho”ti.

2.6Catutthaṁ.