Written by: Sirat Gohar Daudpoto
Posted on: September 24, 2026 | 
Also, on the seventh day after Siddhartha's birth, his mother, Queen Maya, died, and he was raised by his father and his mother’s sister, Mahaprajapati Gotami. On the other hand, the predictions of the sages about the future of Prince Siddhartha also worried his father, King Suddhodana. He wanted his son to become a universal ruler, rather than a saint. Having firm belief in the predictions and advice of the Sages, Suddhodana decided to raise his son within the home so that he could become a great king one day.
The Kapilavastu palace was turned into a heaven, provided with all luxuries and free from pain, sorrows, annoyances, and unpleasantness. Everything was made perfect in the palace, reflecting happiness, joy and prosperity. All arrangements for Siddhartha’s entertainment, study, and training were made there, as King Suddhodana feared that if his son stepped out of the home, he would become a spiritual figure.
Remains of Kapilavastu Palace of the King Suddhodana (Tilaurakot, Nepal)
Siddhartha lived a royal life till the age of twenty-nine inside the Kapilavastu palace, completely shielded and cut off from the outside world. At the age of twelve, he was admitted to school and studied sciences, arts, and texts and learned archery and martial arts. It is believed that Siddhartha quickly mastered his subjects and even excelled his instructors and trainers in knowledge, and he also attained mastery in martial arts and archery.
A Gandharan relief depicting Prince Siddhartha going to school with his schoolmates (Victoria & Albert Museum)
After finishing his education, Siddhartha was married to Princess Yashodhara of the Koliya clan, to which Queen Maya also belonged, when he was sixteen years old. They were the same age at the time of their marriage. Thirteen years later, when they were twenty-nine years old, Yashodhara gave birth to a boy whom they named Rahula. They were happily living in the luxurious Kapilavastu palace.
Siddhartha and Yashodhara in the Kapilavastu palace (National Museum of Pakistan, Karachi)
One day Siddhartha came across a huge wall and gate between the palace and the outer city. He made up his mind to step out of the palace and see what was outside the walls. King Suddhodana learnt about his son’s intent, and he ordered to decorated and make the city look happy and beautiful. Accompanied by soldiers, his attendants, and the charioteer Channa, Siddhartha stepped out of his home and experienced the outside world for the first time in his life. He found it very attractive and witnessed happiness and prosperity all around the city.
Sight of the dead body illustrated in the 15th century edition of the Chinese manuscript, Baocheng’s illustrated biography of the Buddha
But suddenly Siddhartha’s eyes captured four unusual scenes, which surprised and troubled him as he had never experienced such things before. First, he saw an aged man and asked Channa about that person. Channa informed him that aging comes to all beings. Then, he saw an ailing man afflicted with some disease, and Channa brought to his knowledge that all beings are prone to ailment and pain. After that, he had the sight of a human corpse. Once again, Channa explained to him that death is certain and befalls all beings. These sights of human suffering saddened Siddhartha and created trouble in his mind. But the fourth sight gave him hope for release from suffering. He spotted an ascetic who had completely renounced worldly life, and Siddhartha decided to follow the path of the ascetic to search for a way to end suffering.
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