Son of the Bodhisatta (then chaplain of the king of Benares) and a slave-girl, whom he first met in the royal park. The boy was so called because he was conceived under an uddāla-tree. When grown up he went to Takkasilā and later became leader of a large company of ascetics. In the course of their travels he and his followers came to Benares, where they received great favours from the people. Attracted by his reputation, the king once visited him with the royal chaplain. On that occasion Uddālaka arranged that he and his followers should feign to be very holy men given up to various austerities. The chaplain, seeing through their dishonesty and discovering the identity of Uddālaka, persuaded him to leave his asceticism and become chaplain under him (J.iv.298-304).