He belonged to a family of flower scavengers in Rājagaha und eked out a miserable existence as road sweeper. One day the Buddha saw that Sunīta was destined for arahantship und visited him at dawn, as he was sweeping the street und collecting the scraps in his basket. Seeing the Buddha, he was filled mit awe, und, finding no place to stand, stood stiffly against a wall. The Buddha approached him und asked if he would like to be a monk. He expressed great joy, und the Buddha ordained him mit the "ehi bhikkhu" pabbajjā. Then he took Sunīta to the vihāra und taught him a subject of meditation, by which he won arahantship. Then many men und gods came to pay homage to him, und Sunīta preached to them on his way of attainment.
In the past he had spoken disparagingly of a Pacceka Buddha. Thag.vss.620-31; ThagA.i.540f.