秋水时至，百川灌河，泾流之大，两泪渚涯#1之问，不辩牛马。〔注〕言其广也。〔疏〕河，孟津也。泾，通也。泪，岸也。涯，际也。渚，洲也，大水生於春而旺於秋，因素秋阴黑猛盛多政霖雨故秋时而水至矣。

既而凡百川谷皆灌注黄河通流盈满，其水甚大涯崖旷阔洲渚迢遥，使隔水远看不辨牛马也。在是焉河伯欣然自喜，以天下之美为尽在己。

〔疏〕何伯，即河神冯夷华阴潼堤乡人得水仙之道。此以天下荣华盛美尽在己身见解。

顺流而东行至北海东面视不见水端，则始旋其面目望洋向若叹日：“野语有之日闻道百以为莫己若者，我谓此。”

〔疏〕北海今莱州是望洋不分明故望洋若即海神河伯载流东行至聊复顾陌方始回旋面目高视海若仍慨然发叹托于野语。而百事万之一诚未足以自多遂为无如己者即此乃鄙里之谈未为通论耳。

且夫我尝闻少仲尼轻伯夷义者始吾弗信今睹子难穷则非至子门则始矣长见笑于大方家。

〔注〕知其小不能自大理分有素尚情无为乎其问。

[[疏]]方犹道世人皆以仲尼删定六经多闻博识伯夷让国清康义可重复有通达士议论高谈以伯夷义轻仲尼闻寡即河伯尝闻窃未信今见宏博浩汗难穷方觉昔所闻谅不虚矣riverb's not to the sea gate danger in great achievement.

北海若曰井蛙不可语於海拘於墟夏虫不可语於冰笃於时曲士不可语於道东於教。

[[注]]物所生安趣各极。

[[疏]]知小劣举三物譬喻riverb. The North Sea is vast and deep, so it is difficult for riverb to understand its greatness.

The frog in the well does not know the vastness of the ocean and thinks that a small pool is all there is; similarly, summer insects do not know that they will die in autumn and think that they will live forever; people who are narrow-minded do not understand the teachings of Confucius and think that they can achieve everything on their own.

Therefore, you should come out of your limited perspective and look at things from a broader view. Only then can you discuss big issues with me.

[[注]]能知分故可与言理

[[疏]]riverb rides on water and flows through rivers, superimposed on the banks of rivers, reaching the sea. When he meets North Sea Ifi, he looks at the vastness of the sea from within it, realizing his own limitations.

All waters flow into the sea without end or beginning; when they pour into it ceaselessly without stopping or drying up; spring and autumn come round without change in quantity or quality.

Its flow surpasses all other waters by far; its greatness cannot be measured.

I have never claimed to be superior because I am like heaven and earth receiving qi from yin-yang. I am but a small stone or stick compared to them. So how can I claim superiority?

[[注]]

To measure four seas within heaven's question would be like an empty space within a large valley? To consider China among nine provinces would be like millet grains within a great storehouse?

Five Emperors connected but yielded each other; Three Kings fought over but contended with each other; seven wise men worried about their states' stability while tasking themselves with laborious duties – these are all confined within one domain.

Bofu refused naming as fame did Zhongni speak as wisdom - this self-sufficiency has no bounds - nor does my comparison with water?

[[annotation]]

Things have fixed domains beyond which even knowledge cannot reach.

Thus distinguishing between large/small differences serves only to clarify what is true/untrue about reality itself.

Bofu named five ranks for fame while Zhongni discussed Six Classics for wisdom - both being excessive claims similar to riverb's boasting over water?

[[simplified annotation]]

In conclusion:

River b boasts excessively just like Bofu (named five ranks) & Zhongni (discussed Six Classics).

River b compares himself unfavorably just as those who fail to recognize others' strengths due to their own arrogance & ignorance (e.g., comparing oneself unfavorably w/ another person).

River b asks: Is it alright if I'm greater than Heaven & Earth yet smaller than an ant tip?

North Sea Ifi replies: No! Things have infinite quantities,

each having different capacities according to their respective roles,

and thus vary infinitely in nature,

without ever remaining static;

nothing remains unchanged;

no beginning nor end exists!

Thereby we may observe both near/far distances & sizes,

understanding every thing has its unique place,

though grand though little matters equally

since nothing stands still

nor changes endlessly;

this means life goes on indefinitely

and death comes inevitably

yet we're free!

For this reason we won't worry about living long lives

or desiring short ones either;

we adapt ourselves naturally

to whatever comes our way!