[102] "Well then, brahmin, I shall question you in return on this very matter; answer as you see fit. What do you think, brahmin? Are you skilled in the road leading to Rājagaha?"
"Yes, sir, I am skilled in the road leading to Rājagaha."
"What do you think, brahmin? Suppose a man were to come here wishing to go to Rājagaha. Having approached you, he would say: 'Venerable sir, I wish to go to Rājagaha; point out to me the road to Rājagaha.' You would say to him: 'Come, good man, this road goes to Rājagaha. Go along it for a little while; having gone along it a little while, you will see such-and-such a village. Go along it a little while further; having gone along it a little while, you will see such-and-such a market town. Go along it a little while further; having gone along it a little while, you will see Rājagaha's delightful parks, delightful groves, delightful grounds, and delightful lotus ponds.' Though advised thus and instructed thus by you, he might take a wrong road and go off facing west.
Then a second man might come wishing to go to Rājagaha. Having approached you, he would say: 'Venerable sir, I wish to go to Rājagaha; point out to me the road to Rājagaha.' You would say to him: 'Come, good man, this road goes to Rājagaha. Go along it for a little while; having gone along it a little while, you will see such-and-such a village. Go along it a little while further; having gone along it a little while, you will see such-and-such a market town. Go along it a little while further; having gone along it a little while, you will see Rājagaha's delightful parks, delightful groves, delightful grounds, and delightful lotus ponds.' Being advised thus and instructed thus by you, he might arrive safely at Rājagaha.
What now, brahmin, is the cause, what is the reason why, when Rājagaha indeed stands, when the road leading to Rājagaha stands, and when you stand as the one who exhorts, nevertheless one man, though advised thus and instructed thus by you, takes a wrong road and goes off facing west, while another arrives safely at Rājagaha?"
"What can I do about that, worthy Gotama? I am the one who shows the way, worthy Gotama."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.