Part 2 (2/2)
42. Q. _But the gate was locked, was it not?_
A. Yes; but the _Devas_ caused it to open without the slightest noise, and he rode away into the darkness.
43. Q. _Whither did he go?_
A. To the river Anoma, a long way from Kapilavastu.
44. Q. _What did he then do?_
A. He sprang from his horse, cut off his beautiful hair with his sword, put on the yellow dress of an ascetic, and giving his ornaments and horse to Channa, ordered him to take them back to his father, the King.
45. Q. _What then?_
A. He went afoot towards Rajagrha, the capital city of King Bimbisara, of Magadha.
46. Q. _Who visited him there?_
A. The King with his whole Court.[2]
46a. Q. _Thence whither did he go?_
A. To Uruvela, near the present Mahabodhi Temple at Buddha Gaya.
47. Q. _Why did he go there?_
A. In the forests were hermits--very wise men, whose pupil he afterwards became, in the hope of finding the knowledge of which he was in search.
48. Q. _Of what religion were they?_
A. The Hindu religion: they were Brahmanas.[3]
49. Q. _What did they teach?_
A. That by severe penances and torture of the body a man may acquire perfect wisdom.
50. Q. _Did the Prince find this to be so?_
A. No; he learned their systems and practised all their penances, but he could not thus discover the cause of human sorrow and the way to absolute emanc.i.p.ation.
51. Q. _What did he then do?_
A. He went away into the forest near Uruvela, and spent six years in deep meditation, undergoing the severest discipline in mortifying his body.
52. Q. _Was he alone?_
A. No; five Brahman companions attended him.
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