"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 the Deathless as its ground, the Deathless as its destination, the Deathless as its final goal.
He develops right intention, which has the Deathless as its ground, the Deathless as its destination, the Deathless as its final goal.
He develops right speech, which has the Deathless as its ground, the Deathless as its destination, the Deathless as its final goal.
He develops right action, which has the Deathless as its ground, the Deathless as its destination, the Deathless as its final goal.
He develops right livelihood, which has the Deathless as its ground, the Deathless as its destination, the Deathless as its final goal.
He develops right effort, which has the Deathless as its ground, the Deathless as its destination, the Deathless as its final goal.
He develops right mindfulness, which has the Deathless as its ground, the Deathless as its destination, the Deathless as its final goal.
He develops right concentration, which has the Deathless as its ground, the Deathless as its destination, the Deathless as its final goal.

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

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

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

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

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

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

120. “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 amatogadhaṃ amataparāyanaṃ amatapariyosānaṃ…pe… sammāsamādhiṃ bhāveti amatogadhaṃ amataparāyanaṃ amatapariyosānaṃ.

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

Paṭhamaṃ.