Once upon a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta was born into a wealthy family in the Kingdom of Kasi. Having come to years of discretion, he saw how passion springs from pain and how true bliss comes by the abandonment of passion. So he went to the Himalayas became a hermit, winning by fulfillment of the ordained mystic meditations the five orders of the Higher Knowledge and the eight Attainments. And as he lived his life in the rapture of Insight and as many as five hundred hermits came to him as disciples.

One day a young poisonous viper, wandering about came to the hut of one of the hermits; and that Brother grew as fond of the creature as if it were his own child, housing it in a joint of bamboo and showing kindness to it. And because it was lodged in a joint of bamboo, the viper was known by the name of “Bamboo.” Moreover, because the hermit was as fond of the viper as if it were his own child, they called him “Bamboo’s Father.”

Hearing that one of the Brethren was keeping a viper, the Bodhisatta sent for that Brother and asked whether the report was true. When told that it was true, the Bodhisatta said, “A viper can never be trusted; keep it no longer.”

The Brother told him, “My viper is dear to me as a pupil to a teacher; I could not live without him.”

The Bodhisatta answered, “Well. Know that this very snake will bite you and you will loose your life.” But heedless of the master’s warning, that Brother still kept the snake. Within few days all the Brethren went out to gather fruits, and coming to a spot where all kinds grew in plenty; they stayed there two or three days. With them went “Bamboo’s Father,” leaving his viper behind in its bamboo prison. Two or three days afterwards, when he came back, he thought him of feeding the snake. Opening the cane, stretched out his hand, saying, “Come, my son; you must be hungry.” But angry with its long fast, the viper bit his outstretched hand, killing him on the spot, and made its escape into the forest.

Seeing him lying there dead, the Brethren came and told the Bodhisatta, who made the body be burned.

The Bodhisatta developed within himself the four Noble States, and at his death was re-born into the Brahma Realm.