Final answer:
A prophecy stated Siddhartha Gautama might become an emperor of India or a holy man. His father tried to ensure the former by keeping him in luxurious isolation, but Siddhartha chose a spiritual path after encountering suffering.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to Buddhist tradition, a prophecy foretold that Siddhartha Gautama (who would later become known as the Buddha) would become either a great king (emperor of India) or a holy man. Siddhartha's father, the king, wished for his son to be a great ruler like himself and thus took measures to shield Siddhartha from the harsh realities of life by providing a life of luxury within the palace walls. However, Siddhartha was deeply moved by the suffering he witnessed outside the palace which eventually led him to abandon his protected royal life in search of spiritual enlightenment.