1: The Birth of the Bodhisatta – 261 

 

had come to the conclusion: “That great man, the prince, will not remain in a 
household life, he will definitely attain Buddhahood.” 

These Brahmins had been well-versed in the Vedas since their childhood; they 
had been also treated as teachers since then. They agreed among themselves to 
renounce the world, for they thought to 

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 themselves: “We will not be able 

to cut off the entanglement to our families when we get married. It is therefore 
better for us to go forth early,” hence their dedication to the Bodhisatta 
immediately after their prediction when they were still young. 

Taking up their residence in forest dwellings, they sometimes enquired, asking 
lay people: “Friends, has the young prince renounced the world?” – “How can 
you see the prince’s renunciation? He is still enjoying royal luxuries in the midst 
of female dancers in the three palaces, as though he were a divine being,” 
replied the people. Then the Brahmins, thinking that: “The wisdom of the prince 
is not mature yet,” went on waiting unworriedly for the moment of the prince’s 
renunciation. 

The story recorded in the Chronicles of the Buddhas (

Buddha-vaṁsa

) and Birth 

Stories (

Jātaka

) commentaries is like this: After naming the Prince Siddhattha, 

the select eight learned Brahmins went home and summoned their sons and said: 
“Dear sons, we are now advanced in age. Prince Siddhattha, son of our King 
Suddhodana, will certainly become an Awakened One. We do not know for sure, 
however, whether we will see the young prince attain Buddhahood. When he 
does, take up the ascetic life in the Dispensation of that Buddha.” 

Out of the eight learned Brahmins, seven lived till old age but expired before the 
prince’s renunciation and were reborn in good or evil existences in accordance 
with their respective deeds. Koṇḍañña alone survived in good health. When the 
prince attained manhood and renounced the world, he went to Uruvelā forest 
and mused: “Delightful is this region! It is agreeable to one who is inclined to 
engage in meditation.” And while the Bodhisatta was then devoting himself to 
asceticism (

dukkara-cariyā

) in that forest, Koṇḍañña, learning the news that: 

“The prince has become a recluse,” went to the sons of the late seven Brahmins 
and said: “Young men, Prince Siddhattha is said to have become a recluse. The 
prince will certainly become a Buddha. If your fathers were still alive, they 
would have gone forth and taken up an ascetic life themselves today. If you are 
desirous of becoming recluses yourselves, do come along. I am going to follow