Siddhartha entered the chamber, where his father was sitting on a mat of bast, and stepped behind his father and remained standing there, until his father felt that someone was standing behind him. Quoth the Brahmin: “Is that you, Siddhartha? Then say what you came to say.”

Quoth Siddhartha: “With your permission, my father. I came to tell you that it is my longing to leave your house tomorrow and go to the ascetics. My desire is to become a Samana. May my father not oppose this.”

The Brahmin fell silent, and remained silent for so long that the stars in the small window wandered and changed their relative positions, ere the silence was broken. Silent and motionless stood the son with his arms folded, silent and motionless sat the father on the mat, and the stars traced their paths in the sky. Then spoke the father: “Not proper it is for a Brahmin to speak harsh and angry words. But indignation is in my heart. I wish not to hear this request for a second time from your mouth.”

Slowly, the Brahmin rose; Siddhartha stood silently, his arms folded.