He belonged to a brahmin family of Rājagaha, and was given a name according to the family traditions. When he grew up, he became an ascetic, and made a hut for himself of reed stalks, which he had broken off — hence his name, Sarabhaṅga (reed-plucker). The Buddha saw in him the conditions of Arahantship, and went to him and taught the Dhamma. He listened and joined the Order, attaining Arahantship in due course. He continued to live in his hut until it decayed and crumbled away, and, when asked why he did not repair it he answered that he bad looked after it during his ascetic practices, but that now he had no time for such things. He then declared his knowledge (aññā) in a series of verses. ThagA.i.480 f. These verses are found in Thag.vs.487-93.