Saṃyutta Nikāya
II. Nidāna Vagga
13. Abhisamaya Saṃyutta
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 6
Dutiya Paṭhavī Suttaṃ
The Earth (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, the earth perishing and coming to an end,
except for seven little clay balls
like jujube kernels.
As to that, what think ye, brethren,
which is more?
The great earth, perished and come to an end,
or the seven surviving little jujube-kernel clay balls?"
"Just that is more, lord,
even the great earth.
Scant are the seven surviving little clay balls.
They do not make up one hundredth,
one thousandth,
one hundred thousandth part
when compared with the great earth -
those seven surviving little clay balls."
"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."
