SN46.1 — Connected to Sāvatthī. Disciples, just as elephants, relying on the great mountain king Himalaya, grow their bodies and gain strength; having grown their bodies and gained strength there, they descend into small pools, from small pools to large pools, from large pools to small rivers, from small rivers to great rivers, and from great rivers they descend into the great ocean; there they attain greatness and abundance in their bodies.

In the same way a disciple, relying on virtue, established in virtue, developing the seven factors of enlightenment, making them abundant, attains greatness and abundance in the Dhamma.

And how does a disciple, relying on virtue, established in virtue, developing the seven factors of enlightenment, making them abundant, attain greatness and abundance in the Dhamma?

Here a disciple develops the mindfulness enlightenment factor, which is based on seclusion, dispassion, cessation, and ripens in relinquishment; he develops the investigation of states enlightenment factor... the energy enlightenment factor... the joy enlightenment factor... the tranquility enlightenment factor... the concentration enlightenment factor... the equanimity enlightenment factor, which is based on seclusion, dispassion, cessation, and ripens in relinquishment.

Thus a disciple, relying on virtue, established in virtue, developing the seven factors of enlightenment, making them abundant, attains greatness and abundance in the Dhamma.

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