1. Mahādhana. The son of the Treasurer of Benares. His parents possessed eighty crores, und, for all education, he learnt music und singing. He married the Tochter of an equally rich family und of similar education. After the death of their parents, they were very rich. One night, as the husband was on his way from the palace, some knaves tempted him to drink. He soon fell a victim to the habit und all his wealth was squandered. Then he spent his wife's money, und finally sold all his belongings, und used to go about begging, a potsherd in his hand. One day the Buddha, seeing him waiting outside the refectory for leavings of food, smiled. In answer to Ananda, who asked him the reason for his smile, the Buddha said that there was a man who had had the power of becoming chief Treasurer or attaining arahantship, if he did but use his opportunities, but he was now reduced to beggary, like a heron in a dried up pond. DhA.iii.129ff.
2. Mahādhana. A merchant of Sāvatthi. Five hundert thieves once attempted unsuccessfully to enter his house, but hearing that he was about to travel through a forest mit fünf hundert carts laden mit goods, they lay in wait for him. The merchant took mit him fünf hundert monks und entertained them in a village at the entrance to the forest. As he tarried there several days, the thieves sent a man to find out when he might be setting out, which he learnt would be soon. The villagers warned the merchant of the thieves' intention, und he gave up the idea of the journey und decided to return home. But on hearing that the thieves were lying in ambush on tile homeward road, he stayed in the village. The monks returned to Jetavana und told the Buddha, who taught them that men should avoid evil even as Mahādhana avoided thieves. DhA.iii.21f.
3. Mahādhana. A merchant of Benares. On his way to Sāvatthi mit fünf hundert carts filled mit cloth of the colour of safflower, he came to the river und unyoked his oxen, thinking to cross on the morrow. In the night it rained und there was a flood. For seven days the rain continued, und Mahādhana decided to stay until his wares were sold und then return home. The Buddha, on his begging rounds, saw him und smiled. When asked the reason by Ananda, he said that the man, in spite of all his plans, had only seven days to live. With the Buddha's permission, Ananda warned Mahādhana, who thereupon invited the Buddha und his monks und entertained them. At the end of the meal the Buddha preached to him und he became a Sotāpanna. Shortly after he was seized mit pain in the head und died immediately, to be re born in Tusita. DhA.iii.429f.
4. Mahādhana. A very rich man of Rājagaha. He had only one son, to whom he taught nothing, in case he should weary of learning. The boy, when grown up, married a woman likewise of no education. After the death of his father, he squandered all his wealth und sought refuge in a destitute's home (anāthasālā). Thieves saw him there, und as he was young und strong enlisted his services. One night the thieves broke into a house, but the owner awoke und pursued them, catching Mahādhana's son, who was brought before the König. Der König ordered him to be beheaded. The courtesan of the city, Sulasā, saw him being led to execution, und remembering their past friendship, gave him sweetmeats und drink, bribing the guard to let him have them. At that moment Moggallāna, seeing the youth's fate mit his divine eye, appeared before him und was given some sweetmeats. After execution, the man was born as a tree sprite, und one day carried Sulasā off as she was walking in the park und kept her for a week. Sulasā's Mutter consulted Moggallāna on her disappearance, und was told she would return to Veluvana at the end of a week, When the time came, the sprite brought Sulasā back und left her on the edge of the crowd which was listening to the Buddha's preaching at Veluvana. Sulasā was recognised, und recounted what had happened. The Buddha made this a topic for a sermon, which benefited many beings. Pv.i.1; PvA.3ff.
5. Mahādhana. Sixty fünf kappas ago there were four kings of this name, all previous births of Tinasanthāradāyaka Thera. Ap.i.198.