While residing at the Jetavana Monastery, the Buddha spoke this verse with reference to Venerable Channa.

Channa was the attendant who rode out with Prince Siddhattha when he renounced the world and left the palace. After the prince attained Buddhahood, Channa too became a monk.

As a monk, Channa was arrogant and overbearing because of his close connection with the Buddha. He would boast that he alone had accompanied his master into the forest, while now Sariputta and Moggallana went strutting about calling themselves the Chief Disciples.

When the Buddha sent for him and admonished him, Channa kept silent, but went on abusing and taunting the two Chief Disciples. Three times the Buddha admonished him, and still he did not change.

Again the Buddha sent for him and told him that these two noble monks were good friends to him, and that he should associate with them and be on good terms with them. But despite repeated advice, Channa did as he pleased and kept on scolding and abusing the monks.

The Buddha said that Channa would not change during his lifetime, but would surely change after the Buddha's passing (parinibbana).

On the eve of his parinibbana, the Buddha called Venerable Ananda to his bedside and instructed him to impose the brahma-punishment (Brahmadanda) on Channa: the monks were simply to ignore him and have nothing to do with him.

After the Buddha's passing, when Channa learned of this punishment from the monks, he was filled with such deep and bitter remorse that he fainted three times. He then confessed his wrongdoing to the monks and asked their pardon.

From that moment he changed his ways. He followed the monks' instructions in his meditation practice and soon attained Arahatship.