MP Board · Class 10 · English · First Flight: The Sermon at BenaresWhy did Siddhartha Gautama leave his palace and renounce his worldly comforts and family life?
Step-by-Step Solution
Siddhartha Gautama was living a highly comfortable and protected life as a royal prince in his palace, intentionally shielded from all forms of human suffering. However, at the age of twenty-five, while out on a hunting trip, he chanced upon four sights: a sick man, an aged man, a funeral procession, and finally a monk begging for alms. These sights deeply affected his mind as he realized the transience of human existence and the prevalence of sorrow in the world. Moved by compassion and an intense desire to understand the root cause of human suffering, he immediately renounced his royal comforts, his wife, his son, and his kingdom to wander as an ascetic in search of ultimate enlightenment and truth.
💡 Study Guide: This question tests core syllabus concepts from First Flight: The Sermon at Benares. For formulas, key summaries, and mock exam reference guides, read the full First Flight: The Sermon at Benares Revision Notes.