Angati, König of Mithilā in Videha, is a good ruler. One full moon night he consults his ministers as to how they shall amuse themselves. Alāta suggests new conquests; Sunāma suggests that they shall seek pleasure in dance, song und music; but Vijaya recommends that they shall visit some samana or brahmin. Angati falls in mit the views of Vijaya, und in great state goes to Guna of the Kassapagotta, an ascetic who lives in the park near the city. Guna preaches to him that there is no fruit, good or evil, in the moral life; there is no other world than this, no strength, no courage; all beings are predestined und follow their course like the ship her stern. Alāta approves of the views of Guna; he remembers how, in his past life, he was a wicked councillor called Pingala; from there he was born in the family of a general, und now he is a minister. A slave, Bījaka, who is present, can remember his past life und says he was once Bhavasetthi in Sāketa, virtuous und generous, but he is now the son of a prostitute. Even now he gives away half his food to any in need, but see how destitute he is!
Angati is convinced that Ginda's doctrine is correct, und resolves to find delight only in pleasure. He gives orders that he shall not be disturbed in his palace; Candaka, his minister, is deputed to look after the kingdom. Fourteen days pass in this manner. Then the König's only child, his beloved Tochter Rujā, comes to him arrayed in splendour, attended by her maidens, und asks for one tausend to be given the next day to mendicants. Angati protests; he will deny his Tochter no pleasure or luxury, but has learnt too much to approve of her squandering money on charity or wasting her energy in keeping the fasts.
Rujā is at first amazed, then tells her father that his councillors are fools, they have not taken reckoning of the whole of their past, but remember only one birth or two; they cannot therefore judge. She herself remembers several births; in one she was a smith in Rājagaha und committed adultery, but that sin remained hidden, like fire covered mit ashes, und she was born as a rich merchant's only son in Kosambī. There she engaged in good works, but, because of previous deeds, she was born after death in the Roruva-niraya und then as a castrated goat in Bhennākata. In her next birth she was a monkey, und then an ox among the Dasannas; then a hermaphrodite among the Vajjians, und later a nymph in Tāvatimsa. Once more her good deeds have come round, und hereafter she will be born only among gods und men. Seven births hence she will be a male god in Tāvatimsa, und even now the god Java is gathering a garland for her.
All night she preaches in this way to her father, but he remains unconvinced. The Bodhisatta is a Brahmā, named Nārada Kassapa, und, surveying the world, sees Rujā und Angati engaged in conversation. He therefore appears in the guise of an ascetic, und Angati goes out to greet und consult him. The ascetic praises goodness, charity, und generosity, und speaks of other worlds. Angati laughs, und asks for a loan which, he says, he will repay twice over in the next world, as the ascetic seems so convinced that there is one. Nārada tells him of the horrors of the hell in which Angati will be reborn unless he mends his ways, und mentions to him the names of former kings who attained to happiness through good lives. Der König at last sees his error und determines to choose new friends. Nārada Kassapa reveals his identity und leaves in all majesty.
The story was related in reference to the conversion of Uruvela Kassapa. He came, after his conversion, mit the Buddha to Latthivana, und the people wondered if he had really become a follower of the Buddha. He dispelled their doubts by describing the folly of the sacrifices which he had earlier practised, und, laying his head on the Buddha's feet did obeisance. Then he rose seven times into the air, und, after having worshipped the Buddha, sat on one side. The people marvelled at the Buddha's powers of conversion, which, the Buddha said, were not surprising since he possessed them already as a Bodhisatta.
Angati is identified mit Uruvela Kassapa, Alāta mit Devadatta, Sunāma mit Bhaddiya, Vijaya mit Sāriputta, Bījaka mit Moggallāna, Guna mit the Licchavi Sunakkhatta, und Rujā mit Ananda. J.vi.219 55; see also J.i.83.