The Buddha teaches a repeated simile of great rivers slanting, sloping, and inclining to the east or ocean, showing how a mendicant who develops the four bases of psychic power likewise inclines to extinguishment, applied across each river in this grouped discourse.

SN 51.33-44 The Ganges River, Etc.

“Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, gaṅgā nadī pācīnaninnā pācīnapoṇā pācīnapabbhārā; evameva kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu cattāro iddhipāde bhāvento cattāro iddhipāde bahulīkaronto nibbānaninno hoti nibbānapoṇo nibbānapabbhāro.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu cattāro iddhipāde bhāvento cattāro iddhipāde bahulīkaronto nibbānaninno hoti nibbānapoṇo nibbānapabbhāro? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu chandasamādhippadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgataṁ iddhipādaṁ bhāveti, vīriyasamādhi …pe… cittasamādhivīmaṁsāsamādhippadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgataṁ iddhipādaṁ bhāveti.

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu cattāro iddhipāde bhāvento cattāro iddhipāde bahulīkaronto nibbānaninno hoti nibbānapoṇo nibbānapabbhāro”ti.

Dvādasamaṁ.

Gaṅgāpeyyālavaggo catuttho.

Tassuddānaṁ

Cha pācīnato ninnā,
cha ninnā ca samuddato;
Dvete cha dvādasa honti,
vaggo tena pavuccatīti.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, gaṅgā nadī pācīnaninnā pācīnapoṇā pācīnapabbhārā;

“Mendicants, the Ganges river slants, slopes, and inclines to the east.

evameva kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu cattāro iddhipāde bhāvento cattāro iddhipāde bahulīkaronto nibbānaninno hoti nibbānapoṇo nibbānapabbhāro.

In the same way, a mendicant who develops and cultivates the four bases of psychic power slants, slopes, and inclines to extinguishment.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu cattāro iddhipāde bhāvento cattāro iddhipāde bahulīkaronto nibbānaninno hoti nibbānapoṇo nibbānapabbhāro?

And how does a mendicant who develops the four bases of psychic power slant, slope, and incline to extinguishment?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu chandasamādhippadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgataṁ iddhipādaṁ bhāveti,

It’s when a mendicant develops the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to enthusiasm …

vīriyasamādhi …pe…

energy …

cittasamādhi

mental development …

vīmaṁsāsamādhippadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgataṁ iddhipādaṁ bhāveti.

inquiry, and active effort.

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu cattāro iddhipāde bhāvento cattāro iddhipāde bahulīkaronto nibbānaninno hoti nibbānapoṇo nibbānapabbhāro”ti.

That’s how a mendicant who develops and cultivates the four bases of psychic power slants, slopes, and inclines to extinguishment.”

Dvādasamaṁ.

Gaṅgāpeyyālavaggo catuttho.

Tassuddānaṁ

Cha pācīnato ninnā,

Six on slanting to the east,

cha ninnā ca samuddato;

and six on slanting to the ocean;

Dvete cha dvādasa honti,

these two sixes make twelve,

vaggo tena pavuccatīti.

and that’s how this chapter is recited.

Topics & Qualities:

Collectedness

Collectedness

A mental quality of composure where awareness is gathered, steady, rather than scattered or tense. In such collectedness, supported by mindfulness and right view, experience is clearly known and can be wisely contemplated.

Also known as: mental composure, stability of mind, stillness of mind, concentration, undistracted awareness
Pāli: samādhi, samāhita, susamāhita, sammāsamādhi
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Cultivation

Cultivation

The active practice of 'bringing into being' wholesome states. It is the deliberate nurturing of the bright state of mind.

Also known as: development, improvement, meditation, nurturing, growth
Pāli: bhāvanā
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Psychic power

Psychic power

Supernormal capacities resulting from a practice of collectedness rooted in aspiration, determination, purification of mind, and investigation of phenomena.

Also known as: supernormal abilities, psychic ability, spiritual power
Pāli: iddhi, iddhimant
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Right effort

Right effort

Energy and resolve directed toward preventing unwholesome states from arising, abandoning arisen unwholesome states, cultivating wholesome states, and maintaining arisen wholesome states; persistent application of the mind aligned with the path.

Also known as: right endeavor, right striving
Pāli: sammāvāyāma, padhāna
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Vigour

Vigour

Energetic effort and resilience in practice. It is the refusal to shrink back, the 'uphill' force that initiates and sustains wholesome actions against the gravity of habit.

Also known as: energy, effort, enthusiasm, zeal, application of will, persistence
Pāli: vīriya
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Last updated on July 27, 2026