In this fourth volume of the award-winning graphic novel biography, Buddha slowly discovers that his destiny lies in a path not readily available to him. With fellow ascetics Dhepa, who has complete faith in the purifying quality of painful physical ordeals, and Assaji, who can predict everyone's death to the hour, Buddha travels through the kingdom of Magadha into the Forest of Uruvela, where the middle path and enlightenment wait beyond a series of death-defying trials.

Translation of vol. 4 of the Japanese graphic novel series: Buddha. "Originally published in Japanese as 'Buddha dai yonkan urubera no mori' by Ushio Shuppansha, Tokyo, 1987"--T.p. verso.