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

just as sn.v.39 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 is based upon seclusion, dispassion, and cessation, maturing in release.
He develops right intention, which is based upon seclusion, dispassion, and cessation, maturing in release.
He develops right speech, which is based upon seclusion, dispassion, and cessation, maturing in release.
He develops right action, which is based upon seclusion, dispassion, and cessation, maturing in release.
He develops right livelihood, which is based upon seclusion, dispassion, and cessation, maturing in release.
He develops right effort, which is based upon seclusion, dispassion, and cessation, maturing in release.
He develops right mindfulness, which is based upon seclusion, dispassion, and cessation, maturing in release.
He develops right concentration, which is based upon seclusion, dispassion, and cessation, maturing in release.

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

92. “Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, yamunā nadī pācīnaninnā pācīnapoṇā pācīnapabbhārā; evameva kho, bhikkhave…pe…

93. seyyathāpi[39], bhikkhave, aciravatī nadī pācīnaninnā pācīnapoṇā pācīnapabbhārā; evameva kho, bhikkhave…pe…

94. seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, sarabhū nadī pācīnaninnā pācīnapoṇā pācīnapabbhārā; evameva kho, bhikkhave…pe…

95. seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, mahī nadī pācīnaninnā pācīnapoṇā pācīnapabbhārā; evameva kho, bhikkhave…pe…. Pañcamaṃ.

96. “Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, yā kācimā mahānadiyo, seyyathidaṃ – gaṅgā, yamunā, aciravatī, sarabhū, mahī, sabbā tā pācīnaninnā pācīnapoṇā pācīnapabbhārā;

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 vivekanissitaṃ…pe… sammāsamādhiṃ bhāveti vivekanissitaṃ virāganissitaṃ nirodhanissitaṃ vossaggapariṇāmiṃ.

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

Chaṭṭhaṃ.