Saɱyutta Nikāya
II. Nidāna Vagga
13. Abhisamaya Saɱyutta
The Book of the Kindred Sayings
Part II. The Book Called the Nidāna-Vagga
Containing Kindred sayings on Cause
and Other Subjects
13. The Kindred Sayings on Understanding
Sutta 4
Dutiya Sambhejja-Udaka Suttaɱ
Confluent waters (2)
Translated by Mrs. Rhys Davids
Assisted by F. L. Woodward
Originally Published by
The Pali Text Society
Public Domain
[1] Thus have I heard:
The Exalted One was once staying near Sāvatthī
at the Jeta Grove in Anāthapiṇḍika's Park.
And there the Exalted One addressed the brethren, saying:
"Brethren!"
"Master!" responded those brethren.
The Exalted One said:
"Suppose, brethren, that where those great rivers flow together,
meet together, to wit,
Gangā,
Yamunā,
Aciravatī,
[97] Sarabhū,
Mahī,
the water should die away and come to an end, excepting two or three drops.
As to that what think ye, brethren?
Which is the greater:
the water that, having flowed together,
has died away and come to an end,
or those two or three drops remaining over?"
"Just that, lord, is greater,
even the water that having flowed together
has died away and come to an end;
scant are the two or three drops remaining over,
not a hundredth part do they equal,
not a thousandth,
not a hundred thousandth part do they equal
when compared with the water
that having flowed together
has died away and come to an end,
those two or three drops of water."
"Even so, brethren,
for the Ariyan disciple who has won vision,
for the person who has understanding
this is the greater ill, to wit,
that which for him is wholly perished,
wholly finished;
little is the ill that remains,
not worth the hundredth part,
not worth the thousandth part,
not worth the hundred thousandth part
when measured with the former ill
which for him is wholly perished,
wholly finished,
to wit, a term of seven times.
So great in good, brethren,
is it to be wise in the Norm;
so great in good is it
to have gained the eye of the Norm."
