Prince Siddhartha said these words when he saw the dead body burning on the pyre. In a very short time it was burnt to ashes. This scene moved the Prince deeply. He asked Channa if that was the fate of every living being. Channa told him that this is the fate of every man. None is immortal in the world.

He further told the Prince that the flesh of a dead body is useless. Even the hungry crows do not eat it. The life of a man is very short. He lives, eats, drinks, laughs, loves and likes life well. Then death comes to him in any form and makes him dead. After death man feels nothing. He has no sense of smell, taste, hearing, sight or touch. His near and dear ones cry for him but there is no reply. Even his dearest ones hate to touch his dead body. It becomes impious for everybody. So this is the fate of every human being.

Hearing this, the eyes of Siddhartha were full of tears. He saw towards the sky and thought for a while. Then he said, “The world is caught in the net of woes and death. The pleasures of life are false. They end into sorrow. In our life youth is delightful, old age is painful and then the end is death.” Then he said to Channa, “I have seen more than enough. Now take me home.”