Soon after, while bathing in the river, Gautama was so weak that he fainted and fell. Sujata, a young village girl 27 who lived by the river, saw him and brought him a bowl of rice and milk. “Eat this,” she said. “It will give you strength.” Gautama smiled, “If you had not given me food, I would have died without finding the true way to happiness.” After the meal, he immediately felt stronger and continued his meditation