He was one of four companions — the others being Godhika, Subāhu, and Valliya — who were born at Pāvā as the sons of four Malla-rājās. They were great friends, and once went together on some embassy to Kapilavatthu. There they saw the Buddha’s Twin Miracle, and, entering the Order, they soon became Arahants. When they went to Rājagaha, Bimbisāra invited them to spend the rainy season there and built for each of them a hut, carelessly omitting, however, to have the huts roofed. So the elders dwelt in the huts unsheltered. For a long time there was no rain and the king, wondering thereat, remembered his neglect and had the huts thatched, plastered and painted. He then held a dedication festival and gave alms to the Order. The Elders went inside the huts and entered into a meditation of love. Forthwith the sky darkened in the west and rains fell.

In the time of Siddhattha Buddha the four were householders and friends; one of them gave to the Buddha a ladleful of food, another fell prostrate before the Buddha and worshipped him, the third gave him a handful of flowers, while the fourth paid him homage with sumana-flowers.

In the time of Kassapa Buddha, too, they were friends and entered the Order together. Thag.vv.51-4; ThagA.i.123-6.