Sakya Sinha, Sakya Muni, Or Gautama, Originally Called Siddharta, Was The
Son Of Suddhodhana, The Kshatriya Prince Of Kapilavastu, A Small State
North Of The Ganges, Near The Borders Of Oudh.
His high destiny had been
foretold, as well as the objects that would move him to adopt the ascetic
life.
To keep these from his knowledge, his father caused three palaces to
be built, within the limits of which the prince should pass the three
seasons of the year, whilst guards were posted to bar the approach of the
dreaded objects. But these precautions were defeated by inevitable destiny
and the power of the Devas.
When the prince was sixteen he was married to the beautiful Yasodhara,
daughter of the King of Koli, and 40,000 other princesses also became the
inmates of his harem.
"Whilst living in the midst of the full enjoyment of every kind of
pleasure, Siddharta one day commanded his principal charioteer to prepare
his festive chariot; and in obedience to his commands four lily-white
horses were yoked. The prince leaped into the chariot, and proceeded
towards a garden at a little distance from the palace, attended by a great
retinue. On his way he saw a decrepit old man, with broken teeth, grey
locks, and a form bending towards the ground, his trembling steps
supported by a staff (a Deva had taken this form).... The prince enquired
what strange figure it was that he saw; and he was informed that it was an
old man.
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