At that time King Pajjota had jaundice. Many of the most famous physicians in the world had come to see him, but none was able to cure him. And they were very expensive. King Pajjota then sent a message to King Bimbisāra: “Sir, I have such-and-such a disease. Please ask doctor Jīvaka to treat me.” King Bimbisāra told Jīvaka, “Go to Ujjenī, Jīvaka, and treat King Pajjota.” Jīvaka consented and traveled to Ujjenī. He then went to King Pajjota, examined him, and said,

“Please give me some ghee, sir. I’ll make a medicine from it for you to drink.” “Forget it, Jīvaka. Make whatever will cure me that doesn’t contain ghee. I hate ghee; it’s disgusting.” Jīvaka thought, “I won’t be able to cure this sickness without ghee. Why don’t I prepare medicine from ghee, but with a bitter color, smell, and taste?” Jīvaka then cooked ghee with a number of medicines, but he made sure it had the color, smell, and taste of a bitter substance. But it occurred to him, “When the king is digesting the ghee after drinking it, it will make him vomit. And because he’s temperamental, he might have me executed. Let me take leave in advance.” He then went to the king and said,

“Sir, we doctors need to pull up roots and collect medicines at short notice. Please instruct the stables and the gates: ‘Jīvaka may ride on whatever animal he wishes, depart by whatever gate he desires, and he may come and go as he pleases.’” The king did as Jīvaka had asked.