Once upon a time, when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta was born in a brahmin family of Kasi. Coming of years, he went to Takkasila, and there completed his education. Then he embraced the religious life, cultivated the Faculties and the Attainments, and becoming the preceptor of a large band of pupils he spent his life in Himalayas.

Once, to buy salt and vinegar, they came down from the highlands to a border village, where they stayed in a leaf hut. When they go out seeking alms, a mischievous monkey used to enter the hermitage, and turn everything upside down, spill the water out of the jars, smash the jugs, and finish by making a mess in the hut where the fire was.

The rains over, the anchorites thought of returning to Himalayas and took leave of the villagers. The villagers requested them to have food with them. So next day they brought plenty of food, solid and liquid. The monkey thought to himself, “I’ll trick these people and get some food for me too.” So he put on the air of a holy man seeking alms, and close by the anchorites he stood, worshiping the sun. When the people saw him, they thought, “Holy are they who live with the holy.” The people praised monkey’s virtues. But the Bodhisatta, observing it, replied, “You don’t know that the monkey has defiled the sacred fire, and broke each water pot and you would not praise one who little deserves praise.”

When the people heard this, they took sticks, pelted him, and gave their alms to the Brethren. The sages returned to Himalayas and without once interrupting their mystic ecstasy they came at last to Brahma’s heaven.