Once the king of Bārāṇasī, wishing to discover if he ruled justly, travelled about in disguise, and, in the course of his wanderings, came to the Himavā, where the Bodhisatta lived as an ascetic. The ascetic gave him ripe figs, and, when asked why they were so sweet, explained that the king of the country was evidently a just ruler. The king returned to his kingdom and ruled for a while unjustly; and returning again to the hermitage, he found that the figs had become bitter.

The story was related to Pasenadi, in order to show the importance of a king ruling wisely and justly. Ānanda is identified with the king of the story. J.iii.110-12; cp. Mahākapi Jātaka (No.407).