The Story of Thera Nataputtaka

While residing at the Jetavana monastery, the Buddha uttered Verse (417) of this book, with reference to Thera Nataputtaka, who was the son of a dancer.

Once, the son of a dancer was going round the streets singing and dancing when he had a chance to listen to a discourse given by the Buddha. After listening to the discourse, he entered the Order and attained arahatship soon afterwards. One day, while the Buddha and the bhikkhus including Nataputtaka were going on an alms-round, they came across the son of another dancer dancing in the street. Seeing the young man dancing, the other bhikkhus asked Nataputtaka whether he still liked dancing. And Nataputtaka answered, "No, I do not." The bhikkhus then went to the Buddha and told him that Thera Nataputtaka was falsely claiming to have attained arahatship. Thereby, the Buddha said, "Bhikkhus! Nataputtaka has gone beyond all bonds of attachment; he has become an arahat."

Then the Buddha spoke in verse as follows:

Verse 417: Him I call a brahmana, who has given up attachment to (sensual pleasures of) human life, has transcended attachment to (sensual pleasures of) deva life and is completely free from all attachment.