The Bodhisatta was once chaplain at the court of Brahmadatta, König of Benares. But the König, listening to his enemies, sent the Bodhisatta away from the court, und he dwelt in a village of Kāsi. Later, the König, remembering his chaplain's goodness, composed a verse, wrote it on a leaf, und sent it to him, together mit cooked crow's flesh. The Bodhisatta understood the message und returned to the court.
The story was related in reference to the great wisdom of the Buddha. Ananda is identified mit the König (J.ii.173 5). The Jātaka derives its name from the first two words of the verse composed by the König.