Prince Gautam was married to a beautiful princess named Yashodhara at the early age of twenty.

Question

Read the following passage carefully and on the basis of your reading answer the questions given below it : 

Prince Gautam was married to a beautiful princess named Yashodhara at the early age of twenty. But Gautam from his very childhood was of a contemplative mind. The sight of disease, old age and death filled him with sorrow and he found no peace of mind. He passed ten years of his married life in this way, till at the age of thirty, a son was born to him. The birth of a child set him at thinking and he was afraid of that of this new tie should bind him to the varieties of the world beyond hope of release. Accordingly, one night he secretly left the palace leaving everything behind him, his wealth and riches, his wife and baby and his royal home. 

1. How old was Prince Gautam when he got married? 

2. Why did Gautam find no peace of mind? 

3. What did he begin to think when a son was born to him? 

4. What did he do secretly one night? 

5. Explain the italicized words in the passage. 

6. Give a suitable title to the above passage.

Answer 1

1. Prince Gautam got married when he was twenty years old. 

2. From the very childhood Gautam of a contemplative mind and he became sad at the sight of people suffering from disease, old age and facing death. 

3. When a son was born to Gautam, he began to think that it (the birth of a son) was a new tie binding him to worldly life which would make his release more difficult. 

4. One night he secretly left the palace leaving everything behind him, his wealth and riches, his wife and baby and his royal life. 

5. Contemplative mind – temperament of deep thinking. Peace of mind – the state of mind when it is calm and quiet. 

6. Renunciation of Gautam.