A wealthy brahmin of Bārāṇasī once left the world and became an ascetic in the Himavā, where he adopted an elephant calf, calling it Somadatta. One day the elephant ate too much and fell ill. The brahmin went in search of wild fruit for it, but before he could return, the animal was dead. The ascetic was filled with grief. Sakka (the Bodhisatta) saw this and, appearing before him, reminded him that it was not for this that he had left wife, wealth and children.

The story was related in reference to a monk who had ordained a novice, and, when the latter died, he was full of grief. Somadatta is identified with the novice and the brahmin with the monk. J.iii.388-91.