[1747] Then the Blessed One, having taken up a little dust on the tip of his fingernail, addressed the bhikkhus: "What do you think, bhikkhus, which is more: this little dust that I have taken up on the tip of my fingernail, or this great earth?"
"Venerable sir, this is the greater, namely, the great earth; the little dust taken up by the Blessed One on the tip of his fingernail is trifling. Compared with the great earth, the little dust taken up by the Blessed One on the tip of his fingernail does not amount to counting, does not amount to comparison, does not amount even to a fraction."
"Just so, bhikkhus, for a noble disciple, a person accomplished in view who has made the breakthrough, this alone is the greater suffering (dukkha), namely, that which is destroyed and exhausted; what remains is trifling: compared with the former mass of suffering that is destroyed and exhausted, it does not amount to counting, does not amount to comparison, does not amount even to a fraction—that is, at most seven more existences—for one who understands as it really is (yathābhūta): 'This is suffering' … who understands as it really is: 'This is the way of practice leading to the cessation (nirodha) of suffering.' Therefore, bhikkhus, an exertion should be made: 'This is suffering' … an exertion should be made: 'This is the way of practice leading to the cessation of suffering.'"
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.