[1749] "Bhikkhus, suppose that where these great rivers meet and converge — that is, the Gaṅgā, the Yamunā, the Aciravatī, the Sarabhū, and the Mahī — a man were to draw out two or three drops of water. What do you think, bhikkhus: which is more — the two or three drops of water that have been drawn out, or the water at the confluence?"
"That, venerable sir, is more, namely, the water at the confluence; the two or three drops of water that have been drawn out are trifling. Compared with the water at the confluence, the two or three drops of water that have been drawn out do not amount to a calculation, do not amount to a comparison, do not amount even to a fraction."
"Even so, bhikkhus, for a noble disciple (ariyasāvaka) … [the same repetition series as before] … exertion should be made."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.