[449] Then the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus: "Bhikkhus, there are these eight wonderful and marvellous qualities in the great ocean, seeing which again and again the asuras delight in the great ocean. What are the eight?
Bhikkhus, the great ocean slopes gradually, inclines gradually, shelves gradually, with no abrupt precipice.
Bhikkhus, that the great ocean slopes gradually, inclines gradually, shelves gradually, with no abrupt precipice — this, bhikkhus, is the first wonderful and marvellous quality in the great ocean, seeing which again and again the asuras delight in the great ocean.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.