Once There lived a rich merchant who had 4 wives. He loved his 4th and the youngest wife the most and adorned her with rich robes and treated her to delicacies. He took great care of her and gave her nothing but the best. He also loved his 3rd wife very much. He was very proud of her and always wanted to show off her to his friends. However, the merchant was always in great fear that she might run away with some other men.

He too, loved his 2nd wife. She was a very considerate person, always patient and in fact was the merchant's confidante. Whenever the merchant faced some problems, he always turned to his 2nd wife and she would always help him out to her best and tide him through difficult times.

Now, the merchant's 1st wife was a very loyal partner and had made great contributions in maintaining his wealth and business as well as taking care of his household. However, the merchant did not love the first wife very much and although she loved him deeply, he hardly took notice of her.

One day, the merchant fell ill. Before long, he knew that he was going to die soon. He thought of his luxurious life and told himself, "Now I have four wives with me. But when I die, I'll be alone. How lonely I'll be!" Thus thinking, he called his 4th wife and asked her, "Dear, I loved you most, endowed you with the finest clothing and showered great care over you. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?" "No way!" replied the 4th wife and she walked away without another word.

The answer cut like a sharp knife right into the merchant's heart. The sad merchant then asked his 3rd wife, "I have loved you so much for all my life. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?" "No!" replied the 3rd wife, "Life is so good over here! I'm going to remarry when you die!" The merchant's heart sank and turned cold.

Now he called his 2nd wife and asked her, "I always turned to you for help and you've always helped me out in my all odd conditions. Now I need your help again. When I die, will you follow me and keep me company?" "I'm sorry, Dear. I can't help you out this time!" replied the 2nd wife. "At the very most, I can only send you to your grave." The answer came like a bolt of thunder and the merchant was devastated.

Then a voice called out : "I'll leave with you. I'll follow you no matter where you go." The merchant looked up and there was his first wife. She was so skinny, almost like she suffered from malnutrition. Greatly grieved, the merchant said, "I should have taken much better care of you while I could have."

Actually, we all have 4 wives in our lives -
(1) The 4th wife is our body. No matter how much time and effort we lavish in making it look good, it'll leave us when we die.
(2) Our 3rd wife is our possessions, status and wealth. When we die, they all go to others.
(3) The 2nd wife is our family and friends. No matter how close they had been there for us when we're alive, they can accompany us only up to our grave. That is the the nearest place they can stay with us.
(4) Our 1st wife is in fact our soul, often neglected in our pursuit of material, wealth and sensual pleasure. She is the only one which never leaves us in any condition.