Four Wives in Our Life

Anonymous

A rich merchant had four wives. He loved the fourth wife very much, adorn her with best clothing and feed her with only good food. He took great care of her and gave her the best of all at all time. He also loved the third one very much, too. He was very proud of her and always wanted to show off her to his friends and relatives. However, he was always fear of her running away with others. He loved his second wife. She was very considerate, patient and was the confidante of the merchant. She always helped her husband whenever he was in need. The merchant did not care much about his first wife. However, she loved him very much, was loyal to him and made contributions to his wealth and status.

Time has come for the merchant to leave this world of materials and luxury. He was very sad that he would need to leave his all wealth and luxury including probably his four wives in this world. However, he wanted to know whether anyone of his four wives would accompany him to the world of Yamraj (God of Dead).

First, he asked his most loved-one: the fourth wife, “Darling, I loved you the most, so made you the happiest woman in the world feeding you the best available food and clothing you the best available garment. Now, I have to leave this world. As you are my most beloved wife, I want you to accompany me in the journey to the unknown world called Yamlok (World of dead). Would you give me a company?”

“No, I cannot die for you, “The fourth wife gave a short and sharp reply to her husband and turned her back on him. This harsh answer to his request made the merchant heart-broken.

Then, the dying merchant called on the third wife and asked, “I have loved you so much throughout my life. Now, I am leaving this world soon. Would you accompany me traveling to the unknown world?”

The third wife was not in a mood to do any favor to her dying husband rather said, “I am not going to die for you but marry someone else better than you after your death and continue to enjoy the beautiful life on earth.”

The merchant was very sad when he heard the reply from his third beloved wife. He thought that this world has made everyone selfish. I came to know this truth only at the last moment of my life.

He approached the second wife and said, “You always helped me whenever any help I needed in my life. Now, my life in this world is almost done and only a few days left to live. Could you do me a last favor and accompany me to my journey to Yamlok?”

The second was agitated very much, was sorry to see her life partner leaving her but said, “I am sorry for you leaving me in this world but I cannot go with you. However, I can help you making your journey smooth performing various sorts of religious and social actions after your death.”

The merchant realized that none were ready to give him a company to the journey to the Yamlok. However, he wanted to ask his first wife whom he had neglected throughout his life. He asked the first wife, “Darling, I have neglected you throughout my life. I apologize to you for not taking care of you during my luxurious life in this material world. However, forgiving me for my past misdeeds, would you accompany me to my last journey to the unknown world called Yamlok?”

To the great surprise of the merchant, his first wife said, “Darling, no matter what you did in the past, I am ready to follow you wherever you go to. My destiny is to accompany you wherever you travel. So, I am with you at all the time. ”

Actually, this is a metaphorical story of our real life.

•    The fourth wife is our body. No matter how much we care of it, it does not go with us when we die.
•    The third wife is our possessions, wealth and status. So, all those things go to others when we die.
•    The second wife is our family and friends. They will perform all sorts of worldly religious and social rites and rituals for a dying relative to ease his/her journey to the unknown world but they would not follow him/her.
•    The first wife is our own soul that we always neglect to take care of while enjoying the worldly luxurious and hectic life. Probably, only the soul pursues us wherever we go whether to the material world or to the spiritual world. So, why do not we take care of it while still we have time to do so.

Note: This story was published in “The Himalayan Times’ of September 1, 2008.