A young brahmin who, with his friend Bhāradvāja, visited the Buddha and held discussions with him. These discussions are recorded in the Tevijja Sutta, the Vāseṭṭha Sutta, and the Aggañña Sutta.

Buddhaghosa says (DA.ii.399; SNA.ii.463; cf. SN., p.116) that Vāseṭṭha was the chief disciple of Pokkharasāti. According to him again (DA.ii.406; cf.iii.860, 872), Vāseṭṭha’s first visit to the Buddha was on the occasion of the teaching of the Vāseṭṭha Sutta, at the conclusion of which he accepted the Buddha as his teacher. He again did so, when, at his next visit, the Buddha taught him the Tevijja Sutta. Soon after, he entered the Order, and, at the conclusion of the teaching of the Aggañña Sutta, he was given the higher ordination and attained Arahantship. He belonged to a very rich family and renounced four hundred million when he left the world. He was an expert in the three Vedas.