The Bodhisatta was once born as a jackal, and, coming across the dead body of an elephant, ate into it from behind and lived inside it. When the body dried up, he became a prisoner and made frenzied efforts to escape. Then a storm broke, moistening the hide and allowing him to emerge through the head, but not without losing all his hair as he crawled through. He thereupon resolved to renounce greediness.

The story was told in reference to five hundred companions, rich men of Sāvatthi, who joined the Order. One night the Buddha perceived that they were filled with thoughts of lust. He therefore sent Ānanda to summon all the monks in the monastery, and told this tale to illustrate the evil effects of desire. The five hundred monks became Arahants. J.i.601 f.