Once Brahmadatta, king of Benares, travelled about his kingdom in disguise seeking for some one who would tell him of a fault possessed by him. One day, in a frontier village, a very rich landowner saw him, and, pleased with his appearance, brought him a very luxurious meal. The king took the food and passed it to his chaplain; the latter gave it to an ascetic who happened to be by. The ascetic placed it in the bowl of a Pacceka Buddha sitting near them. The Pacceka Buddha proceeded, without a word, to eat the meal. The landowner was astonished and asked them the reason for their action, and, on learning that each one was progressively greater in virtue than the king, he rejoiced greatly.
The story was told in reference to a landowner of Sāvatthi, a devout follower of the Buddha. Being anxious to honour the Dhamma also, he consulted the Buddha, and, acting on his advice, invited Ananda to his house and gave him choice food and three costly robes. Ananda took them and offered them to Sāriputta, who, in his turn, made a gift of them to the Buddha.
Ananda was the king of the story, Sāriputta the chaplain, while the ascetic was the Bodhisatta. J.iv.369ff.