A chamberlain (thapati equerry?) of Pasenadi. He was the brother of Isidatta and the father of Migasālā. In his later years he lived the life of a celibate and was reborn in Tusita as a Once-returner. A.iii.348 ff;v.138 ff. The SA (iii.215), however, says that Purāṇa was a Stream-winner.

A conversation he had with the Buddha, in the company of Isidatta, at Sādhuka (q.v.), is recorded in the Saṃyuttanikāya (S.v.349 ff). In the Dhammacetiya Sutta (M.ii.123) Pasenadi speaks of the great loyalty of these two men towards the Buddha. After discussing the Doctrine until late at night, they would sleep with their heads towards the spot where the Buddha was staying and their feet towards the king. Purāṇa is mentioned (e.g., A.iii.451) as an ideal layman.