48. Q. Of what religion were they?
A. The Hindu religion: they were Brāhmanas.[[4]]
49. Q. What did they teach?
A. That by severe penances and torture of the body a man may acquire perfect wisdom.
50. Q. Did the Prince find this to be so?
A. No; he learned their systems and practised all their penances, but he could not thus discover the cause of human sorrow and the way to absolute emancipation.
51. Q. What did he then do?
A. He went away into the forest near Uruvela, and spent six years in deep meditation, undergoing the severest discipline in mortifying his body.
52. Q. Was he alone?
A. No; five Brāhman companions attended him.