1At Sāvatthī. "Bhikkhus, suppose that the great ocean would be destroyed and eliminated except for two or three drops of water. What do you think, bhikkhus, which is more: the water in the great ocean that has been destroyed and eliminated or the two or three drops of water that remain?"

2"Venerable sir, the water in the great ocean that has been destroyed and eliminated is more. The two or three drops of water that remain are trifling. They do not amount to a hundredth part, or a thousandth part, or a hundred thousandth part of the water in the great ocean that has been destroyed and eliminated."

"So too, bhikkhus, for a noble disciple … of such great benefit is it to obtain the vision of the Dhamma."

1Sāvatthiyaṁ vihārati. "Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, mahāsamuddo parikkhayaṁ pariyādānaṁ gaccheyya, ṭhapetvā dve vā tīṇi vā udakaphusitāni. Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, bhikkhave, katamaṁ nu kho bahutaraṁ, yaṁ vā mahāsamudde udakaṁ parikkhīṇaṁ pariyādiṇṇaṁ yāni vā dve vā tīṇi vā udakaphusitāni avasiṭṭhānī"ti?

2"Etadeva, bhante, bahutaraṁ mahāsamudde udakaṁ, yadidaṁ parikkhīṇaṁ pariyādiṇṇaṁ; appamattakāni dve vā tīṇi vā udakaphusitāni avasiṭṭhāni. Neva satimaṁ kalaṁ upenti na sahassimaṁ kalaṁ upenti na satasahassimaṁ kalaṁ upenti mahāsamudde udakaṁ parikkhīṇaṁ pariyādiṇṇaṁ upanidhāya dve vā tīṇi vā udakaphusitāni avasiṭṭhānī"ti.

"Evameva kho, bhikkhave … pe … dhammacakkhupaṭilābho"ti.

Aṭṭhamaṁ.