The Life of the Buddha 23 The prince expressed his firm determination and lofty aspiration. The white horse was also deeply grieved. The prince stroked the white horse, thanked it for its dedication, and predicted that it would receive good retribution. Subsequently, the prince used a sword to cut off his hair, changed into a monk's robe, and turned around to walk towards the mountain cave of the ascetic Bhrigu in the forest of austerities. Channa looked at the prince's retreating figure, sighed in despair, and finally had no choice but to return to the city with grief. On his way back, he would occasionally look back at that forest of austerities.
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