Welcome, Princess Yasodhara. Stay Awhile!

– December 17, 2025, 7-Days-7 Posts #3, 3:50 to 4:20 pm

(OPWC Ch. 8) 

NEW FAVORITE CHARACTER: YASODHARA. Finally, a woman who brings a little more than milk to the table. Hopefully she sticks around longer. 

Here’s what we learn about her in this short chapter, and why it matters: 

He first encounters Yasodhara, a princess from Siddhartha’s general area, but far from the palace: “in a small, poor village… tending to the village children who were suffering from eye diseases, influenza, skin disorders, and other ailments” (57). Mother Theresa. Next: “dressed simply, yet she appeared to be as a goddess who had appeared among the poor” (57). Correction: Princess Diana, of Wales. Different Dianna, much more famous, much more tragic. Also– wait– I thought Siddhartha had to renounce all his desires? Or has that not happened yet? 

Yasodhara doesn’t just come here for photo ops: she works here all the time, for at least 2 years. Then, Siddhartha has a conversation with her, and he learns that she’s not just beautiful, she’s also intelligent, perhaps even an intellectual peer: “she shared many of his own ideas. [She] was not content to remain in her lady’s quarters blindly obeying tradition. She, too, had studied the Vedas and secretly opposed society’s injustices” (58-9). Educated, progressive, defiant, and, if she shares all of his ideas and he’s about to become the fucking Buddha, compassionate, ethical, gracious, gentle, and so forth. 

She also understands what’s possible for women at that time and moves within that framework to advocate for the causes she believes in (so she understands frame analysis): “she knew that as a woman she could not effect great social change, so she found ways to express her convictions through charitable work… hoped her friends might see the value of this through her example” (59). Admirable, in terms of blending strategy with ethics. And, likely, because he saw “the value of this through her example,” Siddhartha feels a “special affinity for Yasodhara” (59). I’m sure her exceptional beauty didn’t hurt, either. Oh—yes, here, they mention it again, a few sentences later: “Siddhartha had met many charming young women, but Yasodhara was not only the most beautiful, she was the one with whom he felt ease and contentment” (59). How fortunate that she’s both! I love that for them. Moving on, enough snark. 

Siddhartha presents gifts to all the young women at a ball, maybe some kind of auction type situation where he’s choosing a wife from the available specimen? What year was this book published again? 1990-fucking-1? Deep breath. Okay. What’s there to be learned here? Next page, next page… Yasodhara appears at the end of the parade of women, wearing an ivory-colored sari: 

“Ever graceful and natural, she approached Siddhartha, smiled, and asked, ‘Does your highness have anything left for me?’” (60). 

I love the confidence she exudes. Promising. I wish she spoke more, but it is what it is. 

Siddhartha shows his “affinity” (and, it seems, his affection) for Yasodhara by taking the necklace off his neck and gifting it to her. She demurs, how could I take that beautiful necklace from off your neck, how could I possibly— think: “Oops I Did It Again” voiceovers. He assures her, “I look better without jewelry– says my mother.” Killer line right there, no notes. He places it around her neck, and everyone applauds. (They get married in the next chapter). 

So far, with little more than a few paragraphs to map the dynamics of their relationship, all I can responsibly say is: She seems awesome, and so does he, and I want to learn more about how they work as a couple/dyad/partnership (and also, how is their coupledom characterized). Available mythic images look extremely promising---they're walking together, apparently deep in conversation with a green aura surrounding them.

To close out: Yasodhara, I’m glad you’re here. 

Effie and the Sutras coming next.