Subhuti, if there were as many rivers like the Ganges as there are grains of sand in the Ganges, would the total of grains of sand in all these rivers be very great?'
Subhuti replied: 'Very great, World Honoured One! These rivers would be innumerable; how much more so would be their sand-grains.'
'Subhuti, I now tell you truly. If a virtuous man or woman filled a number of universes, as great as the number of sand-grains in all these rivers, with the seven treasures, and gave them all away in philanthropy, would his or her merit be great?'
Subhuti replied: 'Very great, World Honoured One!'
The Buddha said to Subhuti: 'If a virtuous man or woman receives and re-examines even a four-line stanza of this sutra and explains it to others, his or her merit will surpass that of such a philanthropist.
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