An Arahant. The Apadāna (Ap.i.119) distinguishes him from the above, whom it calls Ekachattiya. Thirty-one world-cycles ago he placed a pātali flower on the thūpa of Sikhī Buddha. Fifteen world-cycles ago he was a king named Bhūmiya.

The Apadāna Commentary says, however, that this thera was the personal attendant (pacchāsamaṇa = monk who walks behind) of the Buddha for some time and that he was called Nāgasamāla because his body was tender as nāga-buds.