Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v1.c9.140

v1.c9.140

2. **Uggasena.**—Son of a banker of **Rājagaha**. He fell in love with a very skilful acrobat, married her and followed her about with her troupe. When he discovered that she despised him for his lack of skill as an acrobat, he learnt the art and became a clever tumbler. The Buddha knew that Uggasena was ready for conversion and entering Rājagaha while Uggasena was displaying his skill before a large crowd of people, withdrew their attention from his skilful feats. Seeing Uggasena’s disappointment, the Buddha sent **Moggallāna** to ask him to continue his performance, and while Uggasena was displaying his skill by various tricks, the Buddha preached to him, and Uggasena became an arahant, even as he stood poised on the tip of a pole, and later became a monk. His wife also left the world soon after and attained arahantship.