He was born in the family of an elephant-trainer of Kosala, and had two maternal uncles, Sena and Upasena, who were also elephant-trainers and had joined the Order. He saw the Buddha’s Twin Miracle and entered the Order under his uncles, attaining Arahantship in due course. In the time of Atthadassī Buddha he was a hermit and gave the Buddha some fruit (ThagA.i.424 f).

Several verses uttered by him in self-admonition, in which he displays his knowledge of elephant craft, are included in the Theragāthā. Thag. vss. 355-9

He is probably identical with Bhallātakadāyaka of the Apadāna. Ap.ii.398.