A naked ascetic (Ājīvaka). He came of a wagon-building stock of bygone days. In the Anaṅgana Sutta (M.i.31 f), Mahā-Moggallāna tells Sāriputta that, one day, when begging alms in Rājagaha, he came to the house of Samīti, the wagon-builder who was shaping a felloe. Standing by was Paṇḍuputta, watching him and wishing that he should shape it without blemish. When Samīti did so, Paṇḍuputta expressed his joy, saying that Samīti had read his thoughts.

Buddhaghosa says (MA.i.124) that Paṇḍuputta was so called because he was the son of Paṇḍu.