An arahant. He was born in the family of a householder of Bāhiya
(Ap.ii.476 says he was born in Bhārukaccha) - hence his name -
and engaged himself in trade, voyaging in a ship. Seven times he
sailed down the Indus and across the sea and returned safely
home. On the eighth occasion, while on his way to Suvannabhūmi,
his ship was wrecked, and he floated ashore on a plank, reaching
land near Suppāraka. Having lost all his clothes, he made
himself a bark garment, and went about, bowl in hand, for alms
in Suppāraka. Men, seeing his garment and struck with his
demeanour, paid him great honour. Though they offered him costly
robes and many other luxuries, he refused them all and his fame
increased. Because of his bark garment he was known as
Dārucīriya. In due course he came himself to believe that he had
attained arahantship, but a devatā (a Suddhāvāsa-brahmā, who had
been his fellow celibate in the time of Kassapa Buddha, says the
Commentary, see below and also MA.i.340), reading his thoughts
and wishing him well