The Bodhisatta was once a brahmin, und, when he grew up, he lived in a hermitage in the forest, tending his birth-fire (jātaggi). One day, having received a present of rice und ghee, he took it home, made his fire blaze up, und put the rice into the fire. The flames rose up und burnt his hut. Deciding that the company of the wicked was dangerous, he put out the fire und went up into the mountains. There he saw a hind licking the faces of a lion, a tiger, und a panther. Nothing is better than good friends thought the Bodhisatta.
The story was related to show the uselessness of tending the sacred fire. J.ii.41f.