ALEXANDER THE GREAT
EMPIRE OF ALEXANDER
Three last wishes!
Alexander, the great Greek king, after conquering many kingdoms, was returning home. On the way, he fell ill and it took him to his death bed. 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."
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." With these words, the king closed his eyes. Soon he let death conquer him and breathed his last.
Alexander, the great Greek king, after conquering many kingdoms, was returning home. On the way, he fell ill and it took him to his death bed. 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."
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." With these words, the king closed his eyes. Soon he let death conquer him and breathed his last.
I REMEMBER FEW LINES OF FAMOUS KAWWALI,
तू यहाँ मुसाफिर है, ये सारे फ़ानी है
चार रोज़ की महिमा तेरी जिंदगानी है
चार रोज़ की महिमा तेरी जिंदगानी है
धन ज़मीं जर ज़ेवर कुछ न साथ जायेगा
ख़ाली हाथ आया है, ख़ाली हाथ जायेगा
याद रख सिकंदर के हौंसले तो आली थे
ख़ाली हाथ आया है, ख़ाली हाथ जायेगा
याद रख सिकंदर के हौंसले तो आली थे
जब गया था दुनिया से दोनों हाथ खाली थे
अब न वो हला-कू है, और न उसके साथी हैं
जंग-जू व पोरस हैं, और न उसके हाथी है
कल जो तन के चलते थे अपनी शान-ओ-शौक़त पर
शम्मा तक नहीं जलती आज उनकी तुर्बत पर
अब न वो हला-कू है, और न उसके साथी हैं
जंग-जू व पोरस हैं, और न उसके हाथी है
कल जो तन के चलते थे अपनी शान-ओ-शौक़त पर
शम्मा तक नहीं जलती आज उनकी तुर्बत पर
अदना हो या आला हो, सबको लौट जाना है
मुफलिस-ओ-तवंगर का क़ब्र ही ठिकाना है
जैसी करनी वैसी भरनी, आज किया कल पायेगा
सर को उठाकर चलनेवाले, इकदिन ठोकर खायेगा
मौत सबको आनी है कौन इससे छूटा है
तू फना नहीं होगा ये ख़याल झूठा है
मुफलिस-ओ-तवंगर का क़ब्र ही ठिकाना है
जैसी करनी वैसी भरनी, आज किया कल पायेगा
सर को उठाकर चलनेवाले, इकदिन ठोकर खायेगा
मौत सबको आनी है कौन इससे छूटा है
तू फना नहीं होगा ये ख़याल झूठा है
साँस टूटते ही सब रिश्ते टूट जायेंगे
बाप माँ बहन बीवी, बच्चे छूट जायेंगे
बाप माँ बहन बीवी, बच्चे छूट जायेंगे
छीनकर तेरी दौलत, दो-ही गज़ क़फ़न देंगे
दो-ही गज़ क़फ़न देंगे, दो-ही गज़ क़फ़न देंगे
लाके क़ब्र में तुझको मुर्दा पाक़ डालेंगे
अपने हाथों से तेरे मुंह पे ख़ाक़ डालेंगे
अपने हाथों से तेरे मुंह पे ख़ाक़ डालेंगे
मुट्ठी बाँधके आने वाले हाथ पसारे जाएगा
धन दौलत जागीर से तूने क्या पाया, क्या पाएगा
ढलता सूरज धीरे-धीरे ढलता है ढल जाएगा
ढलता सूरज धीरे-धीरे ढलता है ढल जाएगा
