[436] "It is possible, brahmin," the Blessed One said. "Suppose, brahmin, from the point where this river Gaṅgā originates to the point where it enters the great ocean: the grains of sand in this interval are not easy to count thus: 'so many grains of sand,' or 'so many hundreds of grains of sand,' or 'so many thousands of grains of sand,' or 'so many hundreds of thousands of grains of sand.' More numerous than these, brahmin, are the eons (kappa) that have passed and gone by; they are not easy to count thus: 'so many eons,' or 'so many hundreds of eons,' or 'so many thousands of eons,' or 'so many hundreds of thousands of eons.' Why is that? Without discoverable beginning (anamatagga), brahmin, is this saṃsāra. A first point is not discerned of beings roaming and wandering on, hindered by ignorance (avijjā) and fettered by craving (taṇhā). For such a long time, brahmin, has suffering (dukkha) been experienced, has agony been experienced, has disaster been experienced, has the charnel ground been swelled. This much, brahmin, is enough to become disenchanted with all formations (saṅkhārā), enough to become dispassionate toward them, enough to be liberated from them."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.