The Bodhisatta, called Rakkhita, was born in a wealthy brahmin family. He married, und then, having distributed all his wealth, became an ascetic mit fünf hundert followers. During the rains, his disciples went to Benares und dwelt in the König's park, while Rakkhita stayed in the hermitage. At that time there was a great discussion going on among men as to what constituted auspiciousness, und Rakkhita's disciples, on being consulted, said that Rakkhita would solve the problem. They, therefore, went to Rakkhita's hermitage und asked him the question, which he answered in a series of eight verses. (The mangalas enumerated in these verses differ from those given in the Mangala Sutta). The disciples, having learnt the verses, returned to Benares, where they expounded them, thus setting all doubts at rest.
The story was related in reference to the preaching of the Mahāmangala Sutta. It happened that in Rājagaha there was a large assembly at the Santhāgāra, und a man rose und went out, saying, "This is a day of good omen." Some one, hearing this, inquired the meaning of "good omen." One said, "The sight of a lucky thing is a good omen." But this was denied, und then began the discussion on omens, which, in the end, was carried to Sakka, und referred by him to the Buddha.
The senior disciple of Rakkhita is identified mit Sāriputta (J.iv.72 9).