Where the Waters Join Together (1st)

“Mendicants, there are places where the great rivers—the Ganges, Yamunā, Aciravatī, Sarabhū, and Mahī—join together and converge.Suppose a person was to draw two or three drops of water from such a place.

“Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, yatthimā mahānadiyo saṁsandanti samenti, seyyathidaṁ—gaṅgā, yamunā, aciravatī, sarabhū, mahī, tato puriso dve vā tīṇi vā udakaphusitāni uddhareyya.

“Mendicants, there are places where the great rivers—the Ganges, Yamunā, Aciravatī, Sarabhū, and Mahī—join together and converge.“Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, yatthimā mahānadiyo saṁsandanti samenti, seyyathidaṁ—Suppose a person was to draw two or three drops of water from such a place.gaṅgā, yamunā, aciravatī, sarabhū, mahī, tato puriso dve vā tīṇi vā udakaphusitāni uddhareyya.

What do you think, mendicants?Which is more: the two or three drops drawn out or the water in the confluence?”

Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, bhikkhave, katamaṁ nu kho bahutaraṁ—yāni dve vā tīṇi vā udakaphusitāni ubbhatāni, yaṁ vā sambhejjaudakan”ti?

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

“Sir, the water in the confluence is certainly more. The two or three drops drawn out are tiny.Compared to the water in the confluence, it doesn’t count, there’s no comparison, it’s not worth a fraction.”

“Etadeva, bhante, bahutaraṁ, yadidaṁ—saṁbhejjaudakaṁ; appamattakāni dve vā tīṇi vā udakaphusitāni ubbhatāni. Saṅkhampi na upenti, upanidhampi na upenti, kalabhāgampi na upenti saṁbhejjaudakaṁ upanidhāya dve vā tīṇi vā udakaphusitāni ubbhatānī”ti.

“Sir, the water in the confluence is certainly more. The two or three drops drawn out are tiny.“Etadeva, bhante, bahutaraṁ, yadidaṁ—saṁbhejjaudakaṁ; appamattakāni dve vā tīṇi vā udakaphusitāni ubbhatāni. Compared to the water in the confluence, it doesn’t count, there’s no comparison, it’s not worth a fraction.”Saṅkhampi na upenti, upanidhampi na upenti, kalabhāgampi na upenti saṁbhejjaudakaṁ upanidhāya dve vā tīṇi vā udakaphusitāni ubbhatānī”ti.