Buddha, Vol. 1 by Osamu Tezuka

Set in ancient India, this richly imagined retelling follows the miraculous birth and sheltered youth of a prince fated for either great worldly power or spiritual greatness. Palace comforts and prophetic omens collide with glimpses of suffering, injustice, and human longing encountered outside the royal court, while a vivid ensemble of thieves, priests, nobles, and outcasts intersect his life. The volume builds emotional and narrative foundations—showing how personal loss, social turmoil, and ethical questioning begin to crack his protected world and set him on a path toward a profound inner search.

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