When King Siddartha was twenty eight years old, he went to the game park to hunt. There is the gods created with their magical powers, an old man to be seen by the King along the route. The King realized that any one who is born must grow old. Consequently he lost the desire to hunt, and he turned back to the palace. Four months later, he went to the game park again. Along the way, he saw a sick man. He realized then that no one could avoid being sick eventually. Again he turned back to the palace.
Four months later, King Siddartha went to the game park for the third time. On the way he saw a dead man. He thought, "It is inevitable and unavoidable that everyone has to grow old, become sick and die. Is there not some method by which one could avoid these terrible truths? I would really like to be free of these sufferings!" Then he turned back to the palace. Four months later, he went to the game park for the fourth time. This time he saw a monk. He thought, "It is very good to be monk!"
King Siddartha was very pleased by seeing the monk that he was able to continue to go to the game park. While he was at the park, one single thought occupied his mind all day. He thought, "I will renounce my throne and go to the forest. Then I will seek the Dharmma by which one could overcome the sufferings of getting old, getting sick and dying." In the evening, he got on the carriage to return to the palace. A servant approached him and said to him, "My lord. Queen Yasodara just gave birth to a baby boy." He thought that the news of his new son would interfere with his plans to renounce the throne. He said, "Rahu (attachment) will catch me. There are now strings of attachment!" Because of this, the new son of the King was named Rahula.
