A very rich man of Rājagaha. He had only one son, to whom he taught nothing, in case he should weary of learning. The boy, when grown up, married a woman likewise of no education. After the death of his father, he squandered all his wealth and sought refuge in a destitute’s home (anāthasālā). Thieves saw him there, and as he was young and strong enlisted his services. One night the thieves broke into a house, but the owner awoke and pursued them, catching Mahādhana’s son, who was brought before the king. The king ordered him to be beheaded. The courtesan of the city, Sulasā, saw him being led to execution, and remembering their past friendship, gave him sweetmeats and drink, bribing the guard to let him have them. At that moment Mahā-Moggallāna, seeing the youth’s fate with his divine-eye, appeared before him and was given some sweetmeats. After execution, the man was born as a tree sprite, and one day carried Sulasā off as she was walking in the park and kept her for a week. Sulasā’s mother consulted Mahā-Moggallāna on her disappearance, and was told she would return to Veḷuvana at the end of a week, When the time came, the sprite brought Sulasā back and left her on the edge of the crowd which was listening to the Buddha’s teaching at Veḷuvana. Sulasā was recognised, and recounted what had happened. The Buddha made this a topic for a discourse, which benefited many beings. Pv.i.1; PvA.3 ff.