Buddhist traditions, Nivedita and Coomaraswamy
Channa
During the prince’s excursions, the charioteer explains old age and its bodily consequences. Knowledge carried by an attendant becomes the means through which sheltered royalty recognises a universal fate. Channa accompanies the departure and repeatedly asks the prince to choose an emperor’s life instead. He eventually returns with the horse and a message directing the father not to grieve.
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In the sources
Principal account
TraditionalDuring the prince’s excursions, the charioteer explains old age and its bodily consequences. Knowledge carried by an attendant becomes the means through which sheltered royalty recognises a universal fate.
Further detail
TraditionalChanna accompanies the departure and repeatedly asks the prince to choose an emperor’s life instead. He eventually returns with the horse and a message directing the father not to grieve.
Context & interpretation
The entry follows Channa’s narrative role in the four sights and departure episodes. It does not extend his later life beyond the passages reviewed here or turn the attendant’s explanations into a complete teaching summary.
Original passages
Source 1
Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists
the charioteer explainedOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Myths of the Hindus & Buddhists (1914), active reader leaf 319
Exact passage checked against active scan text and original-leaf mapping; scan line breaks normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0109-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0109-E001-P0319
- Original scan leaf
- 319
- Recorded leaf number
- 319
- Current Reader position
- 310
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Source 2
Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists
ordered Channa to lead him homeOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Myths of the Hindus & Buddhists (1914), active reader leaf 323
Exact passage checked against active scan text and original-leaf mapping; scan line breaks normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0109-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0109-E001-P0323
- Original scan leaf
- 323
- Recorded leaf number
- 323
- Current Reader position
- 314
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Continue exploring
Figures in Sacred Narratives ↗
Suddhodana
The Shakya king who tries to preserve his son’s royal future by shielding him from suffering.
Shared source pageFour Sights
The encounters with age, illness, death and a mendicant that unsettle the prince’s protected life.
Shared source pageGreat Departure of Siddhartha
The night journey that leaves palace, family and expected kingship behind.
Shared source pageKantaka
The prince’s horse, whose silent departure carries the seeker out of the guarded city.