After the second sight of sickness, Prince Siddhartha wanted to explore more and understand the ways of the world. He requested his father, King Shuddhodhana to allow him to visit the kingdom one more time. The King did not have any option and so allowed the request and asked Channa, the charioteer to accompany Prince Siddhartha.

Prince Siddhartha disguised himself as a common man and roamed the different lanes of their Kingdom. He kept observing people and learning about their daily life and occupations. When he entered one lane, he saw a big crowd of people who had assembled together. The crowd looked dejected and many people were crying. Prince Siddhartha wondered what the issue was. That is when he saw four men carrying a wooden plank. On the plank, there was a very thin who was lying still. The man was not moving at all and the four men were lifting him and taking the man on the plank somewhere. Siddhartha followed the crowd and kept observing the man on the plank who did not move an inch and did not say anything too. At one point, the crowd stopped walking and the four men put the plank on the ground. They then lifted the man and put him down on a pile of wood which was then set on fire. Despite the fire and the flames, the man on the wooden plank did not move at all. Eventually the entire body was burnt, but Prince Siddhartha did not hear a word of pain. Surprised and confused, he asked his loyal servant, Channa what this entire episode was about. Channa explained about death. 

Prince Siddhartha learnt that all living beings, including Kings and Queens, are meant to die someday and that death cannot be avoided. Prince Siddhartha was shocked and sad to hear that everyone who is born meets with death. After witnessing this horrific sight, the prince returned to his Palace but couldn’t sleep the entire night. The visions troubled him.