0 At Savatthi

1 This samsara is without a discoverable beginning. A first point is not discerned of beings roaming and wandering on, hindered by ignorance and fettered by thirsting. So what do you think, O bhikkhus, which is more? The mother's milk that you have drunk in this long time roaming and wandering on, or the water in the four great oceans?

2 “Bhante, as we understand the Dhamma taught by the Auspicious One, just this, O Bhante, is more: The mother's milk that we have drunk in this long time roaming and wandering on, not even the water in the four great oceans.”

3 Good, good, O bhikkhus, it is good, O bhikkhus, that you understand the Dhamma taught by me thus. This is just more, O bhikkhus: The mother's milk that you have drunk in this long time roaming and wandering on, not even the water in the four great oceans. What is the reason for that? [Because] this samsara is without a discoverable beginning. A first point is not discerned of beings roaming and wandering on, hindered by ignorance and fettered by thirsting. This much, O bhikkhus, is just enough to be enstranged in all sankharas, enough to fade away in them, enough to be liberated in them.

0 sāvatthiyaṃ

1 anamataggoyaṃ bhikkhave, saṃsāro. pubbā koṭi na paññāyati avijjānīvaraṇānaṃ sattānaṃ taṇhāsaṃyojanānaṃ sandhāvataṃ saṃsarataṃ. taṃ kiṃ maññatha bhikkhave, katamannu kho bahutaraṃ yaṃ vā vo iminā dīghena addhunā sandhāvataṃ saṃsarataṃ mātuthaññaṃ pītaṃ, yaṃ vā catusu mahāsamuddesu udakanti. pts page 181

2 ''yathā kho mayaṃ bhante bhagavatā dhammaṃ desitaṃ ājānāma, etadeva bhante, bahutaraṃ yaṃ yaṃ no iminā dīghena addhunā sandhāvataṃ saṃsarataṃ mātuthaññaṃ pītaṃ, natveva catusu mahāsamuddesu udaka''nti.

3 sādhu sādhu bhikkhave, sādhu kho me tumhe bhikkhave, evaṃ dhammaṃ desitaṃ ājānātha. etadeva bhikkhave, bahutaraṃ yaṃ vo iminā dīghena addhunā sandhāvataṃ saṃsarataṃ mātuthaññaṃ pītaṃ, natveva catusu mahāsamuddesu udakaṃ. taṃ kissa hetu? anamataggoyaṃ bhikkhave, saṃsāro. pubbā koṭi na paññāyati avijjānīvaraṇānaṃ sattānaṃ taṇhāsaṃyojanānaṃ sandhāvataṃ saṃsarataṃ. yāvañcidaṃ bhikkhave, alameva sabbasaṅkhāresu nibbindituṃ, alaṃ virajjituṃ, alaṃ vimuccitunti.