Once upon a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta was born a wealthy northern brahmin. Realising the evil of lusts and the blessings that flow from renouncing the world, he abjured lusts, and retiring to the Himalayas; there became a hermit and won the eight Endowments. His following waxed great, amounting to five hundred ascetics. Once when the rains set in, he quitted the Himalayas and traveling along on an alms-pilgrimage with his attendant ascetics. At last they came to Benares, where he took up his abode in the royal palace as the pensioner of the king’s bounty. After dwelling here for the four rainy months, he came to the king to take his leave. But the king said to him, “Reverend sir. You are old. Where will you go?Send your pupils back and stay here yourself.”

The Bodhisatta entrusted his five hundred ascetics to the care of his oldest disciples, saying, “Go to the Himalayas; I will stop here.”

Now that oldest disciple had once been a king, but had given up a mighty kingdom to become a Brother; by the due performance of the rites appertaining to concentrated thought he had mastered the eight Endowments. As he dwelt with the ascetics in the Himalayas, one day a longing came upon him to see the master, and he said to his fellows, “Live on contentedly here; I will come back as soon as I have paid my respects to the master.” So he went to the master, paid his respects to him, and greeted him lovingly. Then he lay down by the side of his master on a mat which he spread there.

At this point appeared the king, who had come to see the ascetic; and with a salutation he took his seat on one side. But though he was aware of the king’s presence, that oldest disciple without raising laid there; started crying with passionate earnestness, “Oh, happiness! Oh, happiness!”

Displeased by the acts of the old disciple, the king said to the Bodhisatta, “Reverend sir, this ascetic must have had his fill to eat, seeing that he continues to lie there so happily, exclaiming with such earnestness.”

The Bodhisatta, “Sir; this old ascetic was a king like you. He is not talking about Royal Happiness which he enjoyed earlier. It is the happiness of the Brother’s life, and the happiness that Insight brings, which move him to this heartfelt utterance.”

Appeased by the lesson thus taught him, the king made his salutation and returned to his palace. The disciple also took his leave of his master and returned to the Himalayas. But the Bodhisatta continued to dwell on there, and, dying with Insight full and unbroken, was re-born in the Realm of Brahma.