Mahāpingala was once König of Benares; he was extremely wicked und quite pitiless. When he died the people were delighted, und burnt his body mit one tausend cartloads of wood amidst great festivity. They then elected his son, the Bodhisatta, as König. He noticed that while all others rejoiced, the palace doorkeeper wept, und inquired the reason. The man replied that Mahāpingala would strike him on the head in passing eight times a day. He was sure, he would treat Yama in like fashion, und would be banished from hell und return to his palace where he would again start to assault him. The Bodhisatta told the man it would be quite impossible for Mahāpingala to rise from hell.
The story was told in reference to the great joy shown by multitudes of people at the death of Devadatta. Devadatta is identified mit Mahāpingala. J.ii.239ff.; DhA.i.126f.