He belonged to the Bhāradvājagotta and was a brahmin of Rājagaha. He sent his son Kaṇhadinna to Takkasilā, to study under a certain teacher, but, on the way there, the boy met a Thera, entered the Order, and became an Arahant. Bhāradvāja, too, heard the Buddha teach at Veḷuvana, became a monk, and attained Arahantship. Later, when Kaṇhadinna visited the Buddha at Rājagaha, he met his father and learnt from him of his attainments.

Thirty-one world-cycles ago, Bhāradvāja met the Pacceka Buddha Sumana and gave him a vallīkāra fruit (Thag.vss.177-8; ThagA.i.302 f). He is, perhaps, identical with Vallīkāraphaladāyaka of the Apadāna. Ap.ii.416; but the same Apadāna verses are given under Bhalliya (ThagA.i.49).