Once upon a time, when Brahmadatta was king of Benares, the Bodhisatta was a Brahmin who lived in a town. His name was Vacchanakha. Coming to years, he took up the religious life, and lived for a long time amid the Himalayas.

He went to Benares to purchase salt and seasoning, and abode in the king’s grounds; next day he entered Benares.

Now, a rich man of the place, pleased at his behaviour, took him home, gave him food, and receiving his promise to abide with him, made him to live in the garden and attended to his needs. And they conceived a friendship each for the other.

One day, the rich man, by reason of his love and friendship for the Bodhisatta, thought this within himself: “The life of an ascetic is unhappy. I will persuade my friend Vacchanakha to unfrock himself; I will divide my wealth in two, and give half to him, and we both will live together.” So one day, when they took the meals, he spoke sweetly to his friend and said;

“Good Vacchanakha, the hermit’s life is unhappy. It is pleasant to live in a house. Come now, let us both live together happily.”

“House in the world are sweet,

Full of food, and full of treasure;

There you have your fill of meat

Eating, drinking at your pleasure.”

The Bodhisatta on hearing him, replied: “Good Sir! from ignorance you have become greedy in desire, and call the householder’s life good, and the life of the ascetic bad; listen now, and I will tell you how bad is the householder’s life.”

He told:-

“He that hath houses peace can never know,

He lies and cheats, he must deal many a blow

On others shoulders; not this fault can cure;

Then who into a house would willing go?”

With these words the great Buddha told the defects of a householder’s life, and went into the garden again.