Once upon a time, there lived a King who had nothing to complain about. For many years, he ruled his kingdom in a prosperous manner. All his subjects and his people were well satisfied and lived happily under the King's just reign. Over a period of time, the King married four times and had four wives. All four of them had individual chambers in his castle and lived gaily.
One day, the King fell sick and lay bed-ridden for about a week. Many gifted doctors came to treat the King from all over the Kingdom but none could identify the affliction of the King. All four of his wives were by his bed-side tending to his needs every day. After several visits from various doctors, the King lost hope and started counting his days to the grave. Many of his subjects and rulers from the neighbouring kingdoms came to visit the sick King. This disheartened the King even more and he ordered none inside his chambers except his wives. Many days passed thus.
One day, the King had a bad dream that depicted his impending doom. Terrified from such a nightmare, he woke up with palpitations. There was his fourth wife ready to bathe him with a wet cloth.
He turned to her and asked "My dear! I'm very afraid of dying alone. If I pass away, would you join me too in the afterlife?".
The fourth wife replied "O My King! I'm very sorry to tell you I can't accompany you in such a manner. You see, for I'm only your fourth wife who had borne no children for you. I'm very thankful that you have adorned me with jewellery and taken care of all of my wishes. But that's all I could do."
The King was wrought with sadness hearing her words. Thereafter, he didn't want her visiting him and said so. She too left the place and never came back.
That day, in the evening, his third wife came to visit the King. She was the most beautiful of them all and whom the King had flaunted by taking her on visits to the country and the neighbouring Kingdoms. She honoured all the festivities with her presence beside the King.
The King stared at her for a long awhile and then asked "My darling! I think I might die soon. When I die, will you die with me also?"
The King's third wife replied in an indifferent manner, "My Lord, I'm grateful for all you've done for me. As repayment, I'm prepared to take care of you till you die, but the minute you do, I plan on marrying a second time." The King took a deep breath and controlled his grief.
This conversation was overheard by the second wife who was waiting at the chamber door. When the third wife left, the King asked her to not come back and gave his blessings to marrying another time. That night, the second wife entered into his chamber and laid out the bed for the King and when she was done she sat beside his headrest and said "My husband, My King, I'm very sorry to hear the words of your third wife"
The King opened his eyes with a tiny glint of hope and looked at her, "So, Will you be with me after I die?"
The second wife hugged the King and said softly, "I pray you to live a long life and do not succumb to this sickness. But, in case you do, I assure you I'll be there to give you a proper funeral. I say this out of utmost heaviness in my heart." The King lay silent for a long time and didn't reply and the second wife too departed the chambers.
That night, the King had little to no sleep. The next morning, his first wife came to his chambers to clear up the chamber-pot and seeing the King with sunken eyes, she kissed his forehead and stared into his eyes for what seemed like a long while then she said, "I heard that you had asked your other wives about escorting you after death. I wonder why you didn't ask me or did their answers convince you to travel alone?"
The King lay silent but tears started to roll down his eyes. Seeing this, she wiped them away and said "My Love! My Husband! My King! I've played with you in our childhood days, I was betrothed to you when you were a Prince and I became a Queen by your side and we've together seen many wars and ruled justly so far. I do not know what has hold of you now but I assure you, if this is your last day, then so shall it be mine. I had been through thick and thin with you and I will be so in the hereafter too."
Hearing this, the King cried shedding tears of realisation. "My Love! My First Wife! My Crown Queen! I've treated you in a far less manner than my other wives. You've borne my children and given these Kingdom future rulers and you've assisted me when there were hard times and now you are prepared to journey with me into the hereafter but, I've hardly done anything for you. I wish I had taken better care of you and spent more time with you. At this moment hearing your words, I want to live just to please you. By God! Let me live for you if I do hereafter" said the King and kissed his first wife's hand. Then he closed his eyes and slept a long sleep.
By the time he woke up, he felt healthy enough to leave his chamber. On consulting a doctor, the king was sure that whatever was troubling him had done it's due and the King will live for many more years to come. He visited his first wife and conveyed the joyous news and spent his remaining life with her happily.
Every man in any walk of life, like The King in this story, has four wives as companions. The fourth wife is the Body of a person. The minute he stops caring for it, it will perish and won't support the person.
The third wife is like a Property of the person. No matter how much he can flaunt it during his life, the minute he dies, it bequests itself into the hand of another.
The second wife though caring and sympathetic is like Kith and Kin of a person. They can wish you well and send you off but never be with you after death.
The first wife though rarely taken care of will always be with the King like that of a Soul of a person. Hence, instead of indulging in mutual rivalry for piling up things of the world we must work towards harnessing and boosting the strength of the Soul which will matter at last.
Moral: Prioritizing Importance of Inner Consciousness Pays Off.
