HH Indradyumna Swami reflects on landing in Skopje, Macedonia, and revisits his childhood hero, Alexander the Great, reflecting on his deathbed wishes and Srila Prabhupada's comments on his greatness.
The Death of Alexander the Great
Alexander, who had fought passionately for many years and conquered nations, died of an unknown disease on his way home to Macedonia. On his deathbed, he made three final wishes to teach the world:
1. Physicians carrying the coffin: To show that no physician can save us from inevitable death.
2. Treasury scattered on the path: To show that we cannot take wealth with us when we die.
3. Hands dangling outside the coffin: To show that we come into this world empty-handed and leave empty-handed.
1. Physicians carrying the coffin: To show that no physician can save us from inevitable death.
2. Treasury scattered on the path: To show that we cannot take wealth with us when we die.
3. Hands dangling outside the coffin: To show that we come into this world empty-handed and leave empty-handed.
Srila Prabhupada on Alexander's Greatness
Srila Prabhupada once recalled an incident where a captured thief accused Alexander of being a "big thief" while he was a "small thief." Instead of punishing him, Alexander admitted the truth. Srila Prabhupada commented: "That is greatness. Mistake is one fault, but to accept that I have done mistake, that is greatness."