A monk. He was the younger brother of Sodhana, his mother being Sādhinī and his sister Tāpanā. The whole family entered the Order of Kassapa Buddha; Sodhana learnt meditation and became an Arahant. Kapila learnt the Tipiṭaka and, intoxicated with his learning, disagreed with everybody, right or wrong. He would heed no admonition, and followed a life of evil conduct in which he was followed by his mother and sister. One day, when Kapila was reciting the Pāṭimokkha, none of the other monks gave the responses, and in anger he declared that there was neither Dhamma nor Vinaya. Thus he put obstacles in the way of religion, and was reborn in Avīci.

Later he was born in Aciravatī as a fish, Kapila-maccha. Some fishermen, having caught him, took him to the king of Kosala. At the fish was of golden hue, the king took him to the Buddha, desiring an explanation of his colour. When the fish opened his mouth the whole of Jetavana stank. The Buddha questioned the fish and made him confess his sins. Struck with remorse, the fish died and was reborn once more in hell. DhA.iv.37 ff; SnA.ii.305 f; SA.ii.152; see also UdA.179 f; ThagA.i.356.