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SN 13.7PTS SN 2.1361 min read

The Ocean

Samuddasutta

For someone who has seen the truth, the suffering eliminated is like the water in the ocean; what remains is like a few drops.

Translated by Bhikkhu Sujato · Pāli: Mahāsaṅgīti Tipiṭaka · Public domain (CC0) via SuttaCentral

  • 0.1Saṁyutta Nikāya 13.7Linked Discourses 13.7
  • 0.21. Abhisamayavagga1. Comprehension

0.3SamuddasuttaThe Ocean

1.1Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati.At Sāvatthī.

1.2“Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, puriso mahāsamuddato dve vā tīṇi vā udakaphusitāni uddhareyya.“Mendicants, suppose a man was to draw up two or three drops of water from the ocean.1

1.3Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, bhikkhave,What do you think, mendicants?1.4katamaṁ nu kho bahutaraṁ, yāni vā dve vā tīṇi vā udakaphusitāni ubbhatāni yaṁ vā mahāsamudde udakan”ti?Which is more: the two or three drops drawn out or the water in the ocean?”

2.1PTS 2.137“Etadeva, bhante, bahutaraṁ, yadidaṁ mahāsamudde udakaṁ;“Sir, the water in the ocean is certainly more.2.2appamattakāni dve vā tīṇi vā udakaphusitāni ubbhatāni.The two or three drops drawn out are tiny.2.3Neva satimaṁ kalaṁ upenti na sahassimaṁ kalaṁ upenti na satasahassimaṁ kalaṁ upenti mahāsamudde udakaṁ upanidhāya dve vā tīṇi vā udakaphusitāni ubbhatānī”ti.Compared to the water in the ocean, 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.

2.6Sattamaṁ.

Translator’s notes

  1. Also at SN 56.57.

    ↩ sn13.7:1.2