After Kamala's death, Siddhartha attempts to console and raise the furiously resistant boy, until one day the child flees altogether. Siddhartha recognizes her and realizes that the boy is his own son. Some years later, Kamala, now a Buddhist convert, is traveling to see the Buddha at his deathbed, accompanied by her reluctant young son, when she is bitten by a venomous snake near Siddhartha's river.
Although Vasudeva is a simple man, he understands and relates that the river has many voices and significant messages to divulge to any who might listen. Siddhartha thus reunites with the ferryman, named Vasudeva, with whom he begins a humbler way of life. Siddhartha decides to live the rest of his life in the presence of the spiritually inspirational river. The very next morning, Siddhartha briefly reconnects with Govinda, who is passing through the area as a wandering Buddhist. Leaving the fast-paced bustle of the city, Siddhartha returns to the river fed up with life and disillusioned, contemplating suicide before falling into a meditative sleep, and is saved only by an internal experience of the holy word, Om. Thus Siddhartha becomes a rich man and Kamala's lover, though in his middle years he realizes that the luxurious lifestyle he has chosen is merely a game that lacks spiritual fulfillment. Siddhartha easily succeeds, providing a voice of patience and tranquility, which Siddhartha learned from his days as an ascetic, against Kamaswami's fits of passion. She directs him to the employ of Kamaswami, a local businessman, and insists that he have Kamaswami treat him as an equal rather than an underling. Although Siddhartha despised materialistic pursuits as a Śamaṇa, he agrees now to Kamala's suggestions. Kamala, a courtesan, notes Siddhartha's handsome appearance and fast wit, telling him that he must become wealthy to win her affections so that she may teach him the art of love.
Venturing onward toward city life, Siddhartha discovers Kamala, the most beautiful woman he has yet seen. Siddhartha crosses a river and the generous ferryman, whom Siddhartha is unable to pay, merrily predicts that Siddhartha will return to the river later to compensate him in some way. He thus resolves to carry on his quest alone. He argues that the individual seeks an absolutely unique, personal meaning that cannot be presented to him by a teacher. Although Govinda hastily joins the Buddha's order, Siddhartha does not follow, claiming that the Buddha's philosophy, though supremely wise, does not account for the necessarily distinct experiences of each person. Afterward, both Siddhartha and Govinda acknowledge the elegance of the Buddha's teachings. Joined by his best friend Govinda, Siddhartha fasts, becomes homeless, renounces all personal possessions, and intensely meditates, eventually seeking and personally speaking with Gautama, the famous Buddha, or Enlightened One. Siddhartha decides to leave his home in the hope of gaining spiritual illumination by becoming an ascetic wandering beggar of the Śamaṇa. The story takes place in the ancient Nepalese kingdom of Kapilavastu.