[422] "Bhikkhus, suppose a man were to cut up whatever grass, sticks, branches, and foliage there are in this Jambudīpa and gather it together in one place; and having gathered it together in one place, he were to make it into pieces of four fingerbreadths each and set them down, saying: 'This is my mother; this is that mother's mother of mine.' The mothers of that man's mother would not be exhausted, bhikkhus, yet the grass, sticks, branches, and foliage in this Jambudīpa would come to depletion and exhaustion. For what reason is that? Because, bhikkhus, this saṃsāra is without discoverable beginning. A first point is not discerned of beings hindered by ignorance (avijjā) and fettered by craving (taṇhā), running on and wandering in saṃsāra. For such a long time, bhikkhus, has suffering (dukkha) been experienced, anguish been experienced, disaster been experienced, and the charnel ground been swelled. So much is this the case, bhikkhus, that it is enough to become disenchanted with all formations (saṅkhārā), enough to become dispassionate toward them, enough to be liberated from them."
The first [sutta].
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.