In the past he was born as Sunetta, son of King Kitava, and because he insulted a Pacceka Buddha he was reborn in Avīci. Later he was born in a family of fishermen near Kuṇḍinagara, but, remembering his past lives, he refused to take part in any fishing. His parents therefore cast him out, but Ānanda, finding him starving, gave him food, and, at the Buddha’s suggestion, ordained him. He soon became an Arahant and dwelt with twelve others in Sānavāsipabbata. Poṭṭhapāda’s kinsmen became hungry ghosts (peta), and his parents sent to him a brother, of whom Poṭṭhapāda was specially fond, to plead for his intervention. He therefore begged alms, and offered them to his colleagues in the name of his kinsmen, who thus regained happiness. Pv.iii.2; PvA.177 ff.