The Bodhisatta was once the state elephant of the Magadha king of Rājagaha. When the king rode in procession, the people had eyes only for the elephant, and the king, in envy, schemed to have the elephant thrown down a precipice. The mahout discovering this, flew on the elephant’s back to Bārāṇasī. The king of Bārāṇasī welcomed them and, with their help, obtained the sovereignty of all India.

The story was told in reference to Devadatta’s envy of people’s praise of the Buddha. Devadatta is identified with the Magadha king, Sāriputta with the king of Bārāṇasī and Ānanda with the mahout. J.i.444 f.