"Bhikkhus, just as the river Ganges slants, slopes, and inclines towards the east,

just as the river Yamuna slants, slopes, and inclines towards the east,

just as the river Aciravati slants, slopes, and inclines towards the east,

just as the river Sarabhū slants, slopes, and inclines towards the east,

just as the river Mahī slants, slopes, and inclines towards the east,

just as whatever great rivers there are— that is, the Ganges, the Yamuna, the Aciravati, the Sarabhū, the Mahī— all slant, slope, and incline towards the east,

so too, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu who develops and cultivates the Noble Eightfold Path slants, slopes, and inclines towards Nibbāna.

And how, bhikkhus, does a bhikkhu develop and cultivate the Noble Eightfold Path so that he slants, slopes, and inclines towards Nibbāna?

Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu develops right view, which has as its final goal the removal of lust, the removal of hatred, the removal of delusion.
He develops right intention, which has as its final goal the removal of lust, the removal of hatred, the removal of delusion.
He develops right speech, which has as its final goal the removal of lust, the removal of hatred, the removal of delusion.
He develops right action, which has as its final goal the removal of lust, the removal of hatred, the removal of delusion.
He develops right livelihood, which has as its final goal the removal of lust, the removal of hatred, the removal of delusion.
He develops right effort, which has as its final goal the removal of lust, the removal of hatred, the removal of delusion.
He develops right mindfulness, which has as its final goal the removal of lust, the removal of hatred, the removal of delusion.
He develops right concentration, which has as its final goal the removal of lust, the removal of hatred, the removal of delusion.

It is in this way that a bhikkhu develops and cultivates the Noble Eightfold Path so that he slants, slopes, and inclines towards Nibbāna."

103. “Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, gaṅgā nadī pācīnaninnā pācīnapoṇā pācīnapabbhārā;

104. “Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, yamunā nadī pācīnaninnā pācīnapoṇā pācīnapabbhārā; evameva kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu…pe… dutiyaṃ.

105. “Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, aciravatī nadī pācīnaninnā pācīnapoṇā pācīnapabbhārā; evameva kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu…pe… tatiyaṃ.

106. “Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, sarabhū nadī pācīnaninnā pācīnapoṇā pācīnapabbhārā; evameva kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu…pe… catutthaṃ.

107. “Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, mahī nadī pācīnaninnā pācīnapoṇā pācīnapabbhārā; evameva kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu…pe… pañcamaṃ.

108. “Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, yā kācimā mahānadiyo, seyyathidaṃ – gaṅgā, yamunā, aciravatī, sarabhū, mahī, sabbā tā pācīnaninnā pācīnapoṇā pācīnapabbhārā; evameva kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu…pe… chaṭṭhaṃ

evameva kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu ariyaṃ aṭṭhaṅgikaṃ maggaṃ bhāvento ariyaṃ aṭṭhaṅgikaṃ maggaṃ bahulīkaronto nibbānaninno hoti nibbānapoṇo nibbānapabbhāro.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu ariyaṃ aṭṭhaṅgikaṃ maggaṃ bhāvento ariyaṃ aṭṭhaṅgikaṃ maggaṃ bahulīkaronto nibbānaninno hoti nibbānapoṇo nibbānapabbhāro?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sammādiṭṭhiṃ bhāveti rāgavinayapariyosānaṃ dosavinayapariyosānaṃ mohavinayapariyosānaṃ…pe… sammāsamādhiṃ bhāveti rāgavinayapariyosānaṃ dosavinayapariyosānaṃ mohavinayapariyosānaṃ.

Evaṃ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu ariyaṃ aṭṭhaṅgikaṃ maggaṃ bhāvento ariyaṃ aṭṭhaṅgikaṃ maggaṃ bahulīkaronto nibbānaninno hoti nibbānapoṇo nibbānapabbhāro”ti.

Paṭhamaṃ.