An Arahant. He belonged to a caravan leader’s family of Sāvatthi, and was so called because he was born through the favour of Vessavaṇa. When he came of age he took a caravan of five hundred carts to Rājagaha. Then, having squandered all his money, he went to Veḷuvana, and, after hearing the Buddha teach, entered the Order and lived in a charnel field. While wandering about, he saw the mangled body of a murdered courtesan and only with a great effort saved himself from distraction of mind. Later, he gained absorption (jhāna) and won Arahantship.

Fourteen world-cycles ago he had seen a Pacceka Buddha at the foot of a tree and had given him an ambātaka (mango?) fruit (Thag. vss. 315-19; ThagA.i.402 f).

He is probably identical with Ambātaka Thera. Ap.i.394.