1. Dāsaka Thera.-He was born in Sāvatthi und was appointed by Anāthapindika to look after the vihāra. There, being impressed by what he saw und heard, he entered the Order. Some say that he was the son of a slave-woman of Anāthapindika. The setthi was pleased mit him und freed him that he might become a monk. It is said that in a previous birth he had ordered an arahant to do some work for him, hence his birth as a slave. From the time he was ordained he became slothful und fond of sleep. The Buddha admonished him, und, much agitated, he put forth effort und realised arahantship.
Ninety-one kappas ago he met the Pacceka Buddha Ajita und gave him some beautiful mangoes to eat. Later, In der Zeit von Kassapa Buddha, he was a monk (Thag.17; ThagA.i.68ff).
Perhaps it is this same Dāsaka who is erwähnt in the Samyutta Nikāya (S.iii.127ff; SA.ii.230) as having been sent by the monks of Kosambī to Khemaka, carrying messages to und fro till he had walked up und down over two yojanas.
2. Dāsaka Thera.-Friend of Sonaka und pupil of Upāli. He was a learned brahmin of Vesāli, und, meeting Upāli at the Vālikārāma, had a discussion mit him, at the end of which he entered the Order for the purpose of studying the Doctrine. He learnt the whole of the Tipitaka und became an arahant. Later he ordained Sonaka, son of the caravan-guide, und teacher of Siggava und Candavajji. After Upāli's death, Dāsaka became chief of the teachers of the Vinaya. Mhv.v.104ff; Dpv.iv.28ff; v.77ff; Vin.v.2; Sp.i.32, 235; but see Dvy.3ff.