Prince Siddharta's father always wanted to see his son as a worthy successor to his throne who would bring glory to the family. However, he was constantly worried about the prediction that the prince would give up everything to lead a spiritual life. When Siddharta turned sixteen, the king made it a point to get him married to his cousin Yashodhara, the princess of the Koliyas.

King Suddhodana always ensured that his son led a sheltered life without knowing anything about sorrow or suffering. However, this made the prince even more curious about the world outside. Soon he began to comprehend the truths of life and the miseries that came along with it. Once, when the prince went driving with his charioteer to the royal gardens, he saw something he had never seen before. It was an old man weakened with age crying out for help. This came as a rude shock to the prince who had never seen anyone suffering. The second sight to meet him during the trip was that of a skinny man caught by some lingering disease. The third sight was that of a corpse carried by grieving relatives to the cremation ground. The prince was greatly disturbed by these images that kept on recurring in his mind. His charioteer then told him that everyone in the world was subject to ageing, disease and death. Thereafter the prince saw a recluse moving with measured steps and downcast eyes. But the prince did not fail to notice that the recluse was aloof and independent at the same time. Channa, the charioteer told him that this recluse was one who had abandoned his home to live a life of purity, to seek truth and answer the riddle of life. At that very instance, thoughts of renunciation flashed through the prince's mind and he returned home in a very somber state of mind. The more he came in contact with the world outside his palace walls, the more convinced he became that the world was lacking in true happiness. Soon enough, he decided to renounce everything including his wife and newborn son to set out on a quest for the truth that would deliver the suffering mass of humanity from its misery.