On a quiet evening, Somnathan, a wise advisor in the kingdom, was strolling through his garden. His peaceful walk was interrupted when a merchant rushed toward him, looking completely distressed.
"Sir, please help me!" the merchant cried out. "My precious elephant has wandered off. It disappeared while I was traveling through the forest path. I cannot find it anywhere!"
Somnathan looked at him calmly and asked, "Tell me, does your elephant have a chipped left tusk?"
The merchant gasped. "Yes! That is exactly my elephant!"
"And does it have poor vision in its right eye?" Somnathan inquired.
"Yes, yes! How could you possibly know that without seeing him?" the merchant asked in wonder.
"Finally," Somnathan continued, "was it carrying bags of honey on one side and dried fruits on the other?"
The merchant was moved to tears. "It is a miracle! You haven't even seen my elephant, yet you know everything about it!"
Somnathan smiled gently and explained, "I did not see your elephant, but I saw its tracks. The footprints were uneven, as if the animal was limping on three legs. This told me it was struggling with an injury. Furthermore, I noticed that the elephant had only grazed the bushes on the left side of the path, leaving the right side untouched. This suggested it could only see clearly on one side.
I also saw ants swarming around spilled honey on one side of the trail, while dried fruits were scattered on the opposite side. From these clues, I deduced what it was carrying. To find your elephant, do not just look for the animal itself. Follow the uneven tracks, look for the side of the path where the greenery is eaten, and watch for any spilled food on the ground."
The merchant thanked Somnathan profusely. Following the wise man's advice, he carefully tracked the signs and successfully reunited with his beloved elephant.
Moral
Observation of small details can solve great problems.
