When the Buddha had stayed at Rājagaha for as long as he liked, he set out wandering toward Sāvatthī. When he eventually arrived, he stayed in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery. At that time Venerable Sāriputta had a fever. Venerable Mahāmoggallāna went to him and asked, “When you previously had a fever, Sāriputta, how did you get better?” “I had lotus roots and tubers.” Then, just as a strong man might bend or stretch his arm, Mahāmoggallāna disappeared from the Jeta Grove and reappeared on the banks of the Mandākinī lotus pond.

An elephant saw Mahāmoggallāna coming and said to him, “Welcome, Venerable Mahāmoggallāna, please come. What do you need, venerable? What may I give?” “I need lotus roots and tubers.”