Once an ascetic named Nárada, younger brother of Káladevala, became a disciple of the Bodhisatta Jotipála (also called in the story Sarabhanga), and lived in the mountainous country of Arańjara. Near Nárada's hermitage was a river, on the banks of which courtesans used to sit, tempting men. Nárada saw one of these courtesans, and becoming enamoured of her, forsook his meditations and pined away for lack of food. Káladevala, being aware of this, tried to wean him from his desires. Nárada, however, refused to be comforted, even when his colleagues, Sálissara, Mendissara and Pabbatissara admonished him. In the end Sarabhanga himself was summoned and Nárada, having listened to the words of his Master, was persuaded to give up his passion.
The story was told in reference to a backsliding monk. He went about for alms with his teachers and instructors but, being their junior, he received very little attention. Dissatisfied with his food and treatment, he sought his wife of former days. She provided him with every comfort and gradually tempted him with the desire to become a householder again. When the monk's fellow-celibates discovered his wish, they took him to the Buddha who preached to him this Játaka, showing that in a past life, too, he had been sorely tempted by the same woman. Nárada was identified with the backsliding monk and the courtesan with the wife of his lay-days (J.iii.461-9).
The Buddha is stated on this occasion to have preached also the Kandina Játaka (J.i.153ff), the Rádha Játaka (J.i.495ff), the Ruhaka Játaka (J.ii.113ff), the Kanavera Játaka (J.iii.58ff), the Asanka Játaka (J.iii.248ff) and the Alambusá Játaka (J.v.152ff).
The Indriya Játaka is also referred to in the Kámavilápa Játaka (J.ii.443ff), but the connection between the two stories is not clear; perhaps the reference is to another story of the same name.
See also Sarabhanga Játaka.