The Last and Final wishes of Alexander the Great - Part I

This is a very nice story that people need to keep in mind. It has touched my heart and I feel it will definitly touch yours as well. This story has definitely thrown a new dimension towards my thought about life. How is that.......We will discuss at the end.

As every one knows Alexander the Great had conquered almost the whole world by the time he was 32. He was unconquered and undefeated, making him one of the most successful kings in the world history. Unfortunately on his way back home he developed illness, which his physicians claimed, was uncurable. Alexander knew his death was near and he would die soon. Yet he pleaded with his doctors to make him fit enough to reach his homeland.

He was not afraid of death, but.... he wanted to see his mother.. before his death. Alas, the doctors were helpless. Alexander was ready to trade all the kingdoms, wealth and glory that he had amassed during his lifetime for the last few moments he would get to see his home land and mother. Unfortunately, they were in vain.

This was the moment when Alexander realized that all his conquest, wealth and glory wouldn't be of any help when he was to face death. They had no meaning to him any more. They were useless. He realized that death will soon arrive and it was impossible to go back home.So, the mighty conqueror lay prostrate and pale, helplessly waiting to breathe his last.

He called his Commander and said, "I will depart from this world soon, I have three wishes, please carry them out without fail." With tears rolling down their cheeks, the Commander agreed to abide by his king's last wishes.

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

“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 amassed during my conquest.

"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 dared to bring the question to their lips. Alexander's favorite Commander 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, smiled and said: “I would like the world to know of the three lessons I have just learnt.

First, I wanted my physicians to carry my coffin because people should realize that no doctor on earth 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. People should learn to treasure their lives.

Through the second wish of strewing riches on the way to the graveyard, I want to tell People that not even a fraction of gold that I had collected for this long period is going to 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. I want people to learn from my mistake.
And about my third wish of having my hands dangling out of the coffin, I wish people to know that I came with empty hands into this world and I go with empty hands out of this world."I can't even take my body along with me on this journey of death.

With these words, the king closed his eyes and soon breathed his last. . .
The moral from this story.... we will see in the next post