The Bodhisatta was chaplain to the king of Bārāṇasī. He was both learned and good; but wishing to test which quality brought him greater honour, he started stealing money from the treasurer. On the third occasion he was arrested and led before the king. He then explained his behaviour to the king, and, having discovered that virtue was the more highly esteemed, he became an ascetic with the king’s leave.

The story was told in reference to a brahmin of Sāvatthi who carried out the same test. J.iii.193-5.