Once upon a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta was born as the son of the king’s family priest. He was named as young Jotipala. When he grew up, he learned all the arts at Takkasila. He went to the forest and became an ascetic in the Kavitthaka hermitage, called Sakkadattiya. He attained perfection in meditation. As he dwelt there many hundreds of sages waited on him. He was attended by a great company and had seven chief disciples. Of them the sage Salissara left the Kavitthaka hermitage for the Surattha country, and dwelt on the banks of the river Satodila with many thousand sages in his company. Mendissara with many thousand sages dwelt near the town of Lambaculaka in the country of king Pajaka. Pabbata with many thousand sages dwelt in a certain wooded mountain in Avanti and the Deccan. Kisavaccha dwelt alone near the city of Kumbhavati in the park of king Dandaki. The ascetic Anusissa was attendant on the Bodhisatta and stayed with him. Narada, the younger brother of Kaladevala, dwelt alone in a cave-cell amid the mountainous country of Aranjara in the Central Region.