dn23:23.0 2.11. The Simile of the Two Caravan Leaders
BAGIAN 23
dn23:23.1 “Well then, chieftain, I shall give you a simile.
dn23:23.2 For by means of a simile some sensible people understand the meaning of what is said.
dn23:23.3 Once upon a time, a large caravan of a thousand wagons traveled from a country in the east to the west.
dn23:23.4 Wherever they went they quickly used up the grass, wood, water, and the green foliage.
dn23:23.5 Now, that caravan had two leaders, each in charge of five hundred wagons.
dn23:23.6 They thought,
dn23:23.7 ‘This is a large caravan of a thousand wagons.
dn23:23.8 Wherever we go we quickly use up the grass, wood, water, and the green foliage.
dn23:23.9 Why don’t we split the caravan in two halves?’
dn23:23.11 So that’s what they did.
dn23:23.12 One caravan leader, having prepared much grass, wood, and water, started the caravan.
dn23:23.13 After two or three days’ journey he saw a dark man with red eyes coming the other way in a donkey cart with muddy wheels. He was armored with a quiver and wreathed with yellow lotus, his clothes and hair all wet. Seeing him, he said,
dn23:23.14 ‘Worthy sir, where do you come from?’
dn23:23.15 ‘From such-and-such a country.’
dn23:23.16 ‘And where are you going?’
dn23:23.17 ‘To the country named such-and-such.’
dn23:23.18 ‘But has there been much rain in the desert up ahead?’
dn23:23.19 ‘Indeed there has, worthy sir. The tracks are sprinkled with water, and there is much grass, wood, and water.
dn23:23.20 Discard your grass, wood, and water. Your wagons will move swiftly when lightly-laden, so don’t tire your draught teams.’
dn23:23.21 So the caravan leader addressed his drivers,
dn23:23.22 ‘This man says that
dn23:23.23 there has been much rain in the desert up ahead.
dn23:23.24 He advises us to discard the grass, wood, and water. The wagons will move swiftly when lightly-laden, and won’t tire our draught teams.
dn23:23.25 So let’s discard the grass, wood, and water and restart the caravan with lightly-laden wagons.’
dn23:23.26 ‘Yes, worthy sir,’ the drivers replied, and that’s what they did.
dn23:23.27 But in the caravan’s first campsite they saw no grass, wood, or water.
dn23:23.28 And in the second,
dn23:23.29 third,
dn23:23.30 fourth,
dn23:23.31 fifth,
dn23:23.32 sixth,
dn23:23.33 and seventh campsites they saw no grass, wood, or water.
dn23:23.34 And all fell to ruin and disaster.
dn23:23.35 And the men and beasts in that caravan were all devoured by that non-human spirit.
dn23:23.36 Only their bones were left over.
dn23:23.37 Now, when the second caravan leader knew that
dn23:23.38 the first caravan was well underway, he prepared much grass, wood, and water and started the caravan.
dn23:23.39 After two or three days’ journey he saw a dark man with red eyes coming the other way in a donkey cart with muddy wheels. He was armored with a quiver and wreathed with yellow lotus, his clothes and hair all wet. Seeing him, he said,
dn23:23.40 ‘Worthy sir, where do you come from?’
dn23:23.41 ‘From such-and-such a country.’
dn23:23.42 ‘And where are you going?’
dn23:23.43 ‘To the country named such-and-such.’
dn23:23.44 ‘But has there been much rain in the desert up ahead?’
dn23:23.45 ‘Indeed there has, worthy sir. The tracks are sprinkled with water, and there is much grass, wood, and water.
dn23:23.46 Discard your grass, wood, and water. Your wagons will move swiftly when lightly-laden, so don’t tire your draught teams.’
dn23:23.47 So the caravan leader addressed his drivers,
dn23:23.48 ‘This man says that
dn23:23.49 there has been much rain in the desert up ahead.
dn23:23.50 He advises us to discard the grass, wood, and water. The wagons will move swiftly when lightly-laden, and won’t tire our draught teams.
dn23:23.51 But this person is neither our friend nor relative. How can we proceed out of trust in him?
dn23:23.52 We shouldn’t discard any grass, wood, or water, but continue with our goods as laden.
dn23:23.53 We shall not discard any old stock.’
dn23:23.54 ‘Yes, worthy sir,’ the drivers replied, and they restarted the caravan with the goods as laden.
dn23:23.55 And in the caravan’s first campsite they saw no grass, wood, or water.
dn23:23.56 And in the second,
dn23:23.57 third,
dn23:23.58 fourth,
dn23:23.59 fifth,
dn23:23.60 sixth,
dn23:23.61 and seventh campsites they saw no grass, wood, or water.
dn23:23.62 And they saw the other caravan that had come to ruin.
dn23:23.63 And they saw the bones of the men and beasts who had been devoured by that non-human spirit.
dn23:23.64 So the caravan leader addressed his drivers,
dn23:23.65 ‘This caravan came to ruin, as happens when guided by a foolish caravan leader.
dn23:23.66 Well then, worthy sir, discard any of our merchandise that’s of little value, and take what’s valuable from this caravan.’
dn23:23.67 ‘Yes, worthy sir’ replied the drivers, and that’s what they did. They crossed over the desert safely, as happens when guided by an astute caravan leader.
dn23:23.68 In the same way, chieftain, being foolish and incompetent, you will come to ruin seeking the other world irrationally, like the first caravan leader.
dn23:23.69 And those who think you’re worth listening to and trusting will also come to ruin, like the drivers.
dn23:23.70 Let go of this harmful misconception, chieftain, let go of it!
dn23:23.71 Don’t create lasting harm and suffering for yourself!”