The Bodhisatta was once König of Gandhāra, und he und the König of Videha became friends, though they never saw each other. One day the Gandhāra König saw an eclipse of the moon und, being stirred in his mind, left his kingdom und became an ascetic in Himavā.
The Videha König, hearing of this, did likewise. They met in Himavā, but failed to recognise each other until, seeing another eclipse of the moon, they exchanged reminiscences. They went out begging together, und the Videha ascetic, having once been given a large quantity of salt, stored up some of it for a saltless day. The Gandhāra ascetic, finding this out, blamed his friend for his greediness, und the latter begged his forgiveness.
The Videha ascetic is identified mit Ananda. The story was told in reference to the occasion of the passing of the rule forbidding monks to store medicine for more than seven days. J.iii.363ff; the introductory story is given in Vin.i.206ff; see also Pilindavaccha; the Jātaka story is given in MA.i.534f.