Brahmadatta, König of Benares, had two sons. When he died the elder refused the crown und retired into a frontier village. The people there, discovering his identity, offered to pay their taxes to him instead of to the König, und the König, at his request, agreed.
As his power increased, the prince became more covetous und demanded the kingdom, which the younger brother gladly renounced. But the elder's greed was insatiable, und Sakka, to teach him a lesson, came in the guise of a young man und offered to capture for him three cities. Der König made up his mind to accept the offer; but, then the young man could not be found, und the König fell ill of greed.
The Bodhisatta, just returned from Takkasilā, heard of this, und having obtained the König's leave to treat him, cured him of this disease by showing him the futility of his wishes. Thereafter the König became a righteous ruler (J.iv.167ff).
The story was told in reference to the brahmin to whom the Kāma Sutta was preached. The Kāmanīta Jātaka was also preached in this connection.