Common Sense

Sep 7

Common Sense

A renowned astrologer eagerly awaited the birth of his first child. Desiring to make an accurate horoscope for the newborn, he instructed the midwife to notify him immediately upon the child's birth.

The astrologer accordingly conducted his calculations, but his heart sank as he discovered a troubling revelation within the child's horoscope – the presence of the Pitruhanta Yoga (death at the hands of his own son).

Determined to spare his son from this ominous fate, the astrologer silently left his home. Nearly two decades elapsed. His son, following in his father's footsteps, became a prominent astrologer in his own right.

In a neighboring state, there hadn't been any rainfall. The king proclaimed that anyone who could accurately forecast the rain's arrival would receive a desired prize, yet those whose predictions were proven wrong would face a death sentence.

Filled with determination, the young boy embarked on his journey to the royal court. However, upon arrival, he encountered an elderly astrologer who was already seated and confidently predicting,
"Today, precisely at five o'clock in the evening, rain will pour down. There will also be hails, and all of them will be of fifty grams in weight."

The young boy was also confident about his calculations and stepped forward to address the king, saying,
"Your Majesty, I too have something to share."
Upon receiving the king's permission, he continued,
"Today, rain is imminent, but it will commence shortly after five o'clock. And, accompanying the rain, there will be hailstones weighing less than fifty grams."

Until half-past four, not a single cloud marred the clear sky. However, within the next twenty minutes, an army of clouds started rising from the horizon. Darkness also descended, but five o'clock arrived without a single drop of rain. Yet, as the clock ticked three minutes past five, it started raining heavily. Haillstones were measured, but they all ranged from 45 to 48 grams.

The elderly astrologer lowered his head, and as stipulated, the soldiers arested him. The king then inquired of the young man what reward he desired. His quick response was-
"Your Highness, I request his freedom."
The king, taken aback, asked,
"Rather than riches and possessions, why do you wish to set this unfamiliar old man free?"
The young man, with tears in his eyes, explained,
"Because he is my father, who abandoned me twenty years ago."

They both came out of the palace, but eventually, the father's affection overflowed. He embraced his son and inquired,
"What made you realize I am your father?"

"Because even today, despite your accurate calculations, you don't use the common sense," the son remarked with a smile.
"What do you mean, my son?" the father demanded.

The son replied,
"While the rain was expected at five o'clock, will it not take some time for the raindrops to reach the surface of the earth? Although the hailstones weighed fifty grams, won't they melt a bit on their way to the earth? Wouldn't the midwife tend to the child before coming to you and telling you the time of birth? And can't the conjunctions also change from Pitruhanta Yoga (son killing father) to Pitrurakshak Yoga (son protecting father) during this interval?"

Numerous errors spanning his lifetime unfolded before the seasoned astrologer, leading him to realise that he had been suffering all his life, due to the lack of common sense.

This is not an isolated story. I think we all must have read similar stories underlining the importance of common sense, which refers to practical, everyday wisdom and judgment that people should typically possess. It involves using sound reasoning and logic to make sensible decisions and navigate daily life effectively.

Common sense relies on a combination of experience, cultural norms, and basic understanding of cause-and-effect relationships. It often involves making decisions or drawing conclusions that seem obvious or straightforward to most individuals.

Ultimately, common sense helps people make informed choices and solve everyday problems without relying solely on specialized knowledge or expertise. But unfortunately, common sense is not so common. Someone has rightly said that it's better to have common sense without education than to have education without common sense.