Three Last Wishes

There is very  instructive incident involving the life of Alexander, the Greek king.

Alexander,  after conquering many  kingdoms, was returning home. 


On the way, he fell ill and it took him  to his  death bed. With death staring him in his face, Alexander realized how  his  conquests, his great army, his sharp sword and all his wealth were of  no  consequence.

He now longed to reach home to see his mother's face and bid her his  last adieu. But, he had to accept the fact that his sinking health would  not permit Him to reach his distant homeland.


The  mighty conqueror lay prostrate and pale, helplessly waiting to breathe his  last. He called his generals and said, "I will depart from this world soon, I have three wishes, please carry them out without fail."

With tears flowing down their  cheeks, the generals agreed  to abide by their king's last wishes.

"My  first desire is that," said Alexander, "My physicians alone must carry my coffin."

After a pause, he continued,
"Secondly, I desire that when  my coffin is being  carried to the grave, the path leading to the graveyard be strewn with  gold,  silver and precious stones which I have collected in my treasury."

The king felt exhausted after saying this. He took a minute's rest and continued.

"My third and last wish is that both my hands be kept  dangling out of my coffin."

The people who had gathered  there wondered at the king's  strange wishes. But no one dare bring the question to their lips.

Alexander's  favorite  general kissed his hand and pressed them to his heart. "O king, we  assure you that your wishes will all be fulfilled. But tell us why do  you  make such strange wishes?"

At this Alexander took a deep breath and said:
"I would like  the  world to know of the three lessons I have just learnt.

Lessons  to learn from last 3 wishes of  King Alexander...
"I want my physicians to carry  my coffin because  people should realize that no doctor can really cure any body. They  are  powerless and cannot save a person from the clutches of death. So let  not  people take life for granted..

The second wish of strewing gold, silver and other riches on the way  to the graveyard is to tell People that not even a fraction of gold will come  with me. I spent all my life earning riches but cannot take anything with  me. Let people realize that it is a sheer waste of time to chase wealth.

And about my third  wish of having my hands dangling out of the coffin, I wish people to know that I came empty handed into this world and empty  handed I go out of this world."


With these words, the king  closed his eyes. Soon he let death conquer him and breathed his last. .