The document tells a story about a rich merchant who had four wives. When he fell ill and knew he was dying, he asked each wife to stay with him after death. The 4th, 3rd and 2nd wives all refused. Only the 1st wife, who he had neglected, agreed to stay with him. It then provides an analogy - that in our own lives we have four "wives" - our body, status/wealth, family/friends, and soul. Only our soul will stay with us after death, so we should focus on cultivating our soul while alive rather than neglecting it.

1. UNFOLDING OF SELFUNFOLDING OF SELF
--- Vallamalla Babu--- Vallamalla Babu
Dy. Mgr., SRP-1 Incline,Dy. Mgr., SRP-1 Incline,
SrirampurSrirampur

2. THETHE FOURFOUR WIVESWIVES

3. THERE WAS ATHERE WAS A
RICH MERCHANTRICH MERCHANT
WHO HADWHO HAD
FOUR WIVESFOUR WIVES

4. FOURTH WIFEFOURTH WIFE
 He loved the 4He loved the 4thth
wife the mostwife the most
 He adorned her with rich robes & treatedHe adorned her with rich robes & treated
her to delicaciesher to delicacies
 He took great care of her & gave herHe took great care of her & gave her
nothing but the bestnothing but the best

5. THIRD WIFETHIRD WIFE
 He also loved 3He also loved 3rdrd
wife very much.wife very much.
 He is very proud of her & always wantedHe is very proud of her & always wanted
to show her off to his friends.to show her off to his friends.
 However, the merchant was always inHowever, the merchant was always in
great fear that she might run away withgreat fear that she might run away with
some other men.some other men.

6. SECOND WIFESECOND WIFE
 He loved his 2He loved his 2ndnd
wife too.wife too.
 She is very considerate person, alwaysShe is very considerate person, always
patient & in fact is the merchant’spatient & in fact is the merchant’s
confidanteconfidante
 Whenever the merchant faced someWhenever the merchant faced some
problems, he always turned to his 2problems, he always turned to his 2ndnd
wifewife
& she would always help him out & tide& she would always help him out & tide
him through difficulties.him through difficulties.

7. FIRST WIFEFIRST WIFE
 11stst
Wife is very loyal partner and has madeWife is very loyal partner and has made
great contributions in maintaining hisgreat contributions in maintaining his
wealth & business as well as taking carewealth & business as well as taking care
of the house hold.of the house hold.
 However, the merchant did not love the 1However, the merchant did not love the 1stst
wife & although she loved him deeply, hewife & although she loved him deeply, he
hardly took notice of herhardly took notice of her

8. One day the merchant fell ill. Before long, he knewOne day the merchant fell ill. Before long, he knew
That he was going to die soon. He thought of hisThat he was going to die soon. He thought of his
luxurious life & told him self.luxurious life & told him self.
““Now I have 4 wives with me. But when I die. INow I have 4 wives with me. But when I die. I
will be alone. How lonely I will be! “will be alone. How lonely I will be! “

9. He asked the 4He asked the 4thth
wife,wife,
““I loved you most, endowed you with finest clothingI loved you most, endowed you with finest clothing
& showered great care over you. Now that I am& showered great care over you. Now that I am
dying, will you follow me & keep me company?”dying, will you follow me & keep me company?”
She replied “ No way” & walked away withoutShe replied “ No way” & walked away without
another wordanother word

10. He asked 3He asked 3rdrd
wife,wife,
””I have loved you so much for all my life. Now thatI have loved you so much for all my life. Now that
I am dying, will you follow meI am dying, will you follow me
& keep me company?”& keep me company?”
““ No “ replied the 3No “ replied the 3rdrd
wife.wife.
““Life is so good over here! I am going to remarryLife is so good over here! I am going to remarry
when you die!”when you die!”
The merchant’s heart sank &The merchant’s heart sank &
turned cold.turned cold.

11. He then asked the 2He then asked the 2ndnd
wife,wife,
““I always turned to you for help & you’ve alwaysI always turned to you for help & you’ve always
helped me out. Now I need your help again.helped me out. Now I need your help again.
When I die, will you follow me & keep meWhen I die, will you follow me & keep me
company?”company?”
““ I am sorry, I can’t help you this time!” repliedI am sorry, I can’t help you this time!” replied
the 2the 2ndnd
wife. ”At the very most, I can only sendwife. ”At the very most, I can only send
you to your grave”.you to your grave”.
The answer came like a bolt of thunder & theThe answer came like a bolt of thunder & the
merchant was devastated.merchant was devastated.

12. Then a voice called outThen a voice called out
““ I will live with you. I will follow you no matterI will live with you. I will follow you no matter
where you go”.where you go”.
The merchant looked up & there was hisThe merchant looked up & there was his 11stst
wife.wife.
She was so skinny, almost like she suffered fromShe was so skinny, almost like she suffered from
malnutrition. Greatly grieved, the merchant said, “Imalnutrition. Greatly grieved, the merchant said, “I
should have taken much better care of you while Ishould have taken much better care of you while I
could have!”could have!”

13. Actually We all haveActually We all have
FOUR WIVESFOUR WIVES
in our lives . . .in our lives . . .

14. THE 4THE 4thth
WIFEWIFE
OUR BODYOUR BODY
No matter how much timeNo matter how much time
& effort we lavish in& effort we lavish in
making it look good, it’llmaking it look good, it’ll
leave us when we die.leave us when we die.

15. THE 3THE 3rdrd
WIFEWIFE
OUR STATUS &OUR STATUS &
WEALTHWEALTH
When we die they willWhen we die they will
go to othersgo to others

16. THE 2THE 2ndnd
WIFEWIFE
OUR FAMILY &OUR FAMILY &
FRIENDSFRIENDS
No matter how closeNo matter how close
they had been there forthey had been there for
us when we’re alive,us when we’re alive,
the farthest they canthe farthest they can
stay by us is up to thestay by us is up to the
gravegrave

17. THE 1THE 1stst
WIFEWIFE
Something you can’t see is in factSomething you can’t see is in fact OUR SOULOUR SOUL
Often neglected in our pursuit of material wealthOften neglected in our pursuit of material wealth
and sensual pleasure. It is actually the only thingand sensual pleasure. It is actually the only thing
that follows us wherever we go. Perhaps it is goodthat follows us wherever we go. Perhaps it is good
idea to cultivate and strengthen it now rather thanidea to cultivate and strengthen it now rather than
to wait until we are on our deathbed to lament.to wait until we are on our deathbed to lament.

18. ThanQThanQ