A brahmin, the Bodhisatta born as the chaplain of Apacara, king of Cetiya. The king had promised the post of chaplain to his friend Korakalamba, Kapila’s younger brother, and when reminded of his promise, undertook to recover it from Kapila’s son who had been given the appointment at Kapila’s request. The king, in spite of Kapila’s warning, attempted to fulfil his promise by lying, and, as a result, he was swallowed up in Avīci. The king’s five sons thereupon sought Kapila’s protection, and at his advice they left Ceti and founded five cities: Hatthipura, Assapura, Sīhapura, Uttarapañcāla, and Daddarapura (J.iii.454 ff).

Kapila is sometimes called Kapila-tāpasa (J.v.273) and Kapila-isi (J.v.267). His encounter with the Cetiya king is evidently a famous legend, and is often referred to, e.g., in the Saṃkicca Jātaka (J.v.267).