[1756] "Bhikkhus, suppose that the Himavā, king of mountains, were to come to destruction and elimination, except for seven grains of gravel the size of mustard seeds. What do you think, bhikkhus, which is more: that of the Himavā, king of mountains, which has been destroyed and eliminated, or the seven grains of gravel the size of mustard seeds that remain?"
"Venerable sir, that of the Himavā, king of mountains, which has been destroyed and eliminated is indeed more; the seven grains of gravel the size of mustard seeds that remain are trifling. Compared to that of the Himavā, king of mountains, which has been destroyed and eliminated, the seven grains of gravel the size of mustard seeds that remain do not amount to calculation, do not amount to comparison, do not amount to even a fraction."
"Even so, bhikkhus, for a noble disciple, a person accomplished in view (diṭṭhisampanna) who has made the breakthrough (abhisametāvī), the suffering (dukkha) that has been destroyed and eliminated is indeed more; that which remains is trifling. Compared to the former mass of suffering that has been destroyed and eliminated, it does not amount to calculation, does not amount to comparison, does not amount to even a fraction — that is, a maximum of seven more times. He understands as it really is: 'This is suffering' … he understands as it really is: 'This is the way of practice leading to the cessation of suffering.' Therefore, bhikkhus, effort should be made to understand: 'This is suffering' … effort should be made to understand: 'This is the way of practice leading to the cessation of suffering.'"
The Abhisamayavagga, the sixth.
Its summary (uddāna):
The fingernail-tip, the lotus ponds,
the confluence, and another two;
the earth, together with the two oceans,
and these two mountain similes.
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In the Āmakadhaññapeyyāla, the first chapter, the seventh.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.