SN 13.5

Pathavīsutta

Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati. “Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, puriso mahāpathaviyā satta kolaṭṭhimattiyo guḷikā upanikkhipeyya. Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, bhikkhave, katamaṁ nu kho bahutaraṁ, yā vā satta kolaṭṭhimattiyo guḷikā upanikkhittā yā vā mahāpathavī”ti?

The Earth

At Sāvatthī. “Mendicants, suppose a person was to place seven clay balls the size of jujube seeds on the great earth. What do you think, mendicants? Which is more: the seven clay balls the size of jujube seeds, or the great earth?”

“Etadeva, bhante, bahutaraṁ, yadidaṁ mahāpathavī; appamattikā satta kolaṭṭhimattiyo guḷikā upanikkhittā. Neva satimaṁ kalaṁ upenti na sahassimaṁ kalaṁ upenti na satasahassimaṁ kalaṁ upenti mahāpathaviṁ upanidhāya satta kolaṭṭhimattiyo guḷikā upanikkhittā”ti. “Evameva kho, bhikkhave …pe… dhammacakkhupaṭilābho”ti.

“Sir, the great earth is certainly more. The seven clay balls the size of jujube seeds are tiny. Compared to the great earth, it’s not nearly a hundredth, a thousandth, or a hundred thousandth part.” “In the same way, for a noble disciple, the suffering that’s over and done with is more …”