The last 3 wishes of Alexander the Great

There is very instructive incident involving the life of Alexander,
the great 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. So, 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. 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.”

Alexander’s last words: “Bury my body, do not build any monument,
keep my hands outside so that the world knows the person who won the
world had nothing in his hands when dying“.

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