At Sāvatthi.

"Bhikkhus, suppose that in a place where these great rivers merge and converge — namely the Ganges, the Yamunā, the Aciravatī, the Sarabhū, and the Mahī — a person would draw out two or three drops of water.

What do you think, bhikkhus, which is greater: these two or three drops of water that have been drawn out, or the water at the confluence?"

"Venerable sir, the water at the confluence is indeed far greater. The two or three drops of water that have been drawn out are very little. Compared to the water at the confluence, these two or three drops do not amount to a hundredth part, nor a thousandth part, nor even a hundred-thousandth part."

"Just so, bhikkhus, for the disciple of the noble ones who has attained right view, who has completely penetrated [the four noble truths], this much greater is the suffering that is exhausted and overcome; only a small amount remains. It does not come to a hundredth part, nor to a thousandth part, nor to a hundred-thousandth part of the former mass of suffering that is exhausted and overcome compared to this final state of having at most seven more existences. Thus great, bhikkhus, is the realization of the Dhamma; thus great is the attainment of the vision of the Dhamma."