The Story of the Five Bhikkhus (Pañcavaggī Theras)

(Regarding the Five Bhikkhus (Pañcavaggī) headed by the Venerable Kondañña, the Sārattha Dīpanī Vinaya Sub-Commentary on one hand and Jātaka Commentary and the Buddhavaṃsa Commentary on the other, narrate different stories. The story of the Five Bhikkhus will be inserted here according to the versions of the said Sub-Commentary and Commentaries.)

The Sārattha Dīpanī Version

At the time of the birth of the Prince, out of the learned Brahmins who were the selected mark-readers, namely, Rāma, Dhaja, Lakkhaṇa, Manti, Koṇḍañña, Bhoja, Suyāma and Sudatta, five, led by Koṇḍañña foretold, saying: “The Prince would certainly become a Buddha.” Thereafter, having handed over to their families the remunerations they received at the prognostication ceremony, they put on the robes, dedicating themselves to the Bodhisatta as they had come to the conclusion: “That great man, the Prince, will not remain in a household life so he will definitely attain Buddhahood.” These Brahmins had been well-versed in the Vedas since their boyhood; they had been also treated as teachers since then. They agreed among themselves to renounce the world, for they thought to themselves: “We will not be able to cut off the tangles of our families when we get married. It is therefore better for us to go forth early.” Hence their dedication to the Bodhisatta immediately after their prognostication when they were still young. Taking up their residence in forest dwellings, they sometimes enquired, asking lay people: “Friends, has the young prince renounced the world?” “How can you see the prince’s renunciation? He is enjoying royal luxuries in the midst of female dancers in the three palaces, as though he were a divine being,” replied the people. Then the Brahmins, thinking that “The wisdom of the Prince is not mature yet,” went on waiting unworriedly for the moment of the Prince’s renunciation. (This is the version given in the third volume of the Sārattha Dīpanī Tika.)

The Version of The Commentaries on The Buddhavaṃsa and The Jātaka

After naming the Prince, Siddhattha, the select eight learned Brahmins went home and summoned their sons and said: “Dear sons, we are now advanced in age. Prince Siddhattha, son of our King Suddhodāna, will certainly become an Enlightened One. We do not know for sure, however, whether we will see the young prince attain Buddhahood. When he does, take up ascetic life in the dispensation of that Buddha.”

Out of the eight learned Brahmins, seven lived till old age but expired before the Prince’s renunciation and were reborn in good or evil existences in accordance with their respective deeds. Koṇḍañña alone survived in good health. When the Prince attained manhood and renounced the world, he went to Uruvelā forest and mused: “Delightful is this region! It is agreeable to one who is inclined to engage in meditation.” And while the Bodhisatta (Prince) was then devoting himself to dukkaracariyā asceticism in that forest, Koṇḍañña, learning the news that “The Prince has become a recluse,” went to the sons of the late seven Brahmins and said: “Young men, Prince Siddhattha is said to have become a recluse. The Prince will certainly attain Buddhahood. If your fathers were still alive, they would have gone forth and taken up an ascetic life themselves today If you are desirous of becoming recluses yourselves, do come along. I am going to follow the Prince and become an ascetic.” Of the seven Brahmins' sons, three remained lay men as they did not agree to go forth.

Only the remaining four agreed and became recluses with Koṇḍañña as their leader. These five persons came to be known as Pañcavaggī Theras. (This is the narration given in the Buddhavaṃsa and Jātaka Commentaries.)