He was a brahmin of Rājagaha who, being neglected by his children in his old age, sought ordination. The monks refused his request on the ground of his age, so he sought the Buddha who, seeing his potential (upanissaya), asked Sāriputta to admit him.¹ Soon after he won Arahantship. He stayed near the Buddha, and, by reason of his skill, the Buddha declared him foremost among those who could inspire speech in others (? paṭibhānakeyyānaṃ).² He thereby earned the name of Paṭibhāniya Thera.³ The Theragāthā (vss.133-4) contains two verses spoken by him in praise of concentration of the mind. The Rādha Saṃyutta ⁴ contains a large number of suttas taught by the Buddha in answer to Rādha’s questions on various topics. It is said that when the Buddha saw Rādha he felt the inclination to talk on matters dealing with subtle topics, illustrating them with various similes.⁵

In the time of Padumuttara Buddha, Rādha was a householder of Haṃsavatī and held a great almsgiving in honour of the Buddha, wishing to gain pre-eminence in the power of inspiring others to speak. He gave ripe mangoes to Vipassī Buddha ⁶ and, as a result, was born in heaven.

Surādha Thera was his younger brother. Rādha was, for some time, the Buddha’s attendant.⁷