SA 440（四四〇） 湖池等

Thus have I heard:

At one time the Buddha was staying at the Kalandaka Bamboo Grove in Rājagṛha.

At that time the World-Honored One told the bhikṣus, "Suppose there is a lake fifty yojanas deep and wide, filled with water. If a man were to drop a few drops of water from his hair, beard, or fingertips, up to three times, what do you think, bhikṣus? Would the drops of water dropped by that man be more, or would the water in the lake be more?"

The bhikṣus said to the Buddha, "The drops of water dropped by that man with his hair, beard, and fingertips are very few. The great water in that lake is immeasurable, and cannot be compared even with calculation or analogy."

The Buddha told the bhikṣus, "The great lake water is very much, immeasurable. In the same way, the noble disciple who is well-versed and has fulfilled the view of the truth, attained the fruit of the noble path, cut off the root of suffering, like cutting off the top of a palm tree, and in the future will become the unproduced dharma, the rest is like the drops of water dropped by that man with his hair, beard, and fingertips. Therefore, bhikṣus! For those who have not yet attained the four noble truths, they should diligently make effort, arouse superior aspiration, and study without interruption."

After the Buddha spoke this sūtra, the bhikṣus who heard what the Buddha said rejoiced and upheld it.

The example of the great lake water is like this. The Sarātoṭaka, Gaṅgā, Yamunā, Sarayū, Irāvatī, and Mahī, as well as the four great oceans, their examples are also as explained above.