Kapil S Joshi

Once there lived a king. He had four wives. Of all the wives, he loved his fourth wife the most. He decked her with fabulous clothes and adorned her with finest jewels. He cared a lot for her. Even though the king loved his third wife too and always allowed her to accompany him during state visits, he feared that the third wife would one day leave him for another man. The king loved his second wife and never hesitated to share his secrets with her.

Whenever the king had any problem he would go to her for a solution .The first wife was very loyal and took care of the coffers with all sincerity. Although she loved the king deeply, he hardly took notice of her.

All was going well until the king fell ill one day. Lonely and sure that his day had come, he summoned his wives and asked them a common query. The most loved of all, he called his fourth wife and asked whether she will accompany him after his death. She outright said no and went away. The king was heartbroken.

He then called his third wife and asked her the same question he had asked the fourth wife. The third wife said she will marry another person after the king was dead.

Devastated, he called his second wife and repeated the question. The second wife said she can only accompany him till the graveyard. It came like a bolt of thunder to the king.

Desolate and weary he was about to send for his first wife when he found her consoling him.

She also said that she will come with him no matter where he went after his death. The king was left ashamed for having ignored her earlier.

The truth is that all of us have these four wives. Our fourth wife is our body. We care a lot for it and waste a lot of time and money to look good but it will not accompany us on our death.

Our third wife is our possessions, wealth and belongings for which we struggle throughout our lives but change hands after our death.

Our second wife is our family and friends with whom we share so much but the farthest they can come with us is the graveyard.

Our first wife is our soul. We often neglect it in pursuit of wealth, power, money and ego. We also often neglect her to fulfil our selfish motives and to fulfil the wishes of our first three wives.

But our soul is the only thing that will come with us wherever we go. Cultivating, strengthening and cherishing it now with good thoughts and deeds will definitely help us. It is the greatest gift to us. Allow it to shine.