On one occasion a wealthy merchant of Rājagaha had obtained a valuable block of sandalwood. He thought, “Why don’t I have a bowl carved from this block of sandal? I’d use the chips myself, but give the bowl away as a gift.” He then had a bowl carved, put it in a carrying net, hung it at the end of a succession of vertical bamboo poles, and announced, “I’ll give this bowl to any perfected monastic or brahmin who brings it down by supernormal power.” Pūraṇa Kassapa went to that merchant and said, “I’m perfected and have supernormal powers. Give me the bowl.” “If you’re perfected and have supernormal powers, then bring it down and it’s yours.” The same thing happened with Makkhali Gosāla, Ajita Kesakambala, Pakudha Kaccāyana, Sañcaya Belaṭṭhaputta, and the Jain ascetic from Ñātika.