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32 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
- Gautami and Suddhodana kept silent.
I
Then Siddharth went to the apartment of Yeshodhara. Seeing her, he stood silent, not knowing what to say and how to say it. She broke the silence by saying : “I have heard all that has happened at the meeting of the Sangh at Kapilavatsu.”
He asked her:—“Yeshodhara, tell me what you think of my decision to take Parivraja ?”
He expected she would collapse. Nothing of the kind happened.
With full control over her emotions, she replied : “What else could I have done if I were in your position ? I certainly would not have been a party to a war on the Koliyas.
“Your decision is the right decision. You have my consent and my support. I too would have taken Parivraja with you. If I do not, it is only because I have Rahula to look after.
“I wish it had not come to this. But we must be bold and brave and face the situation. Do not be anxious about your parents and your son. I will look after them till there is life in me.
“All I wish is that now that you are becoming a Parivrajaka leaving behind all who are near and dear to you, you will find a new way of life which would result in the happiness of mankind.”
Siddharth Gautama was greatly impressed. He realised as never before what a brave, courageous and noble-minded woman Yeshodhara was, and how fortunate he was in having her as his wife and how fate had put them asunder. He asked her to bring Rahula. He cast his fatherly look on him and left.
§ 18. Leaving His Home
Siddharth thought of taking Parivraja at the hands of Bharadwaja who had his Ashram at Kapilavatsu. Accordingly he rose the next day and started for the Ashram on his favourite horse Kanthaka with his servant Channa walking along.
As he came near the Ashram, men and women