Once, when King Magadha was reigning in Rājagaha, the Bodhisatta was a parrot and looked after his aged parents. When the fields of the brahmin Kosiyagotta, of Sālindiya in Magadha, were ripe, the parrot went there with his flock, and, having fed himself, took some corn for his parents. The watchman of the fields reported this to Kosiyagotta, and, on his instructions, a snare was set and the Bodhisatta caught. When he raised the alarm, the other parrots fled. The Bodhisatta explained to Kosiyagotta why he carried the corn away — to feed his parents, his young ones, and those who were in need, thus, as it were, paying a debt, giving a loan, and setting up a store of merit. The brahmin was very pleased, and gave permission to the Bodhisatta to take the corn of all his thousand acres; but the Bodhisatta accepted only eight (J. iv.276-82).

For the introductory story see the Suvaṇṇasāma Jātaka.

Channa, is identified with the watchman and Ānanda with Kosiyagotta.