[253] Setting at Sāvatthī. "Bhikkhus, just as the footprints of whatever living creatures there are that walk upon the land all come to be included within the elephant's footprint, and the elephant's footprint is declared the foremost among them, that is, on account of its great size — even so, bhikkhus, whatever wholesome states (kusalā dhammā) there are, all of them are rooted in diligence (appamāda) and converge upon diligence, and diligence is declared the foremost among those states. Bhikkhus, of a bhikkhu who is diligent this may be expected: that he will develop the Noble Eightfold Path (ariya aṭṭhaṅgika magga), that he will cultivate the Noble Eightfold Path."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.