Story | A Clever Astrologer

Once upon a time there was a king who was very fond of knowing his future from the astrologers. A famous astrologer happened to stop on his way to Delhi. The king called on him to know about his future. The astrologer told him something unpleasant. The king became very angry with him. The king ordered his men to hang the astrologer the next day at a public place.
The next day when people had crowded round the astrologer, he began to smile instead of weeping. The king got astonished seeing the smile of the astrologer as if nothing serious had happened to him. He asked the old man "You liar! What makes you laugh at the time of end of your life? Don't you fear death?" At this the old astrologer laughed loudly and said that the king would die only a week later he died. Hearing these loud words of the cunning palmist, the king turned pale. For some time he could not say anything. Then he ordered his men to drive away the wretched palmist because he could not tolerate this man. Ordering this, the king left the place quickly.

Moral: Ready wit saves a man from danger.