Once the Bodhisatta was born as the son of the king of Mithilá, in the Videha country. He was a rebirth of Makhádeva, who came down among men from the Brahma world in order to bring the number of his family, who renounced the world, up to eighty four thousand. And because the boy was born to round off the family, like the hoop of a chariot, he was called Nemi ("hoop").
On his father's renunciation, he came to the throne and engaged himself and all his subjects in righteousness and generosity. Once, when doubt arose in his mind as to which was more fruitful - holy life or giving alms - Sakka himself appeared before him to answer and encourage him. His fame spread to Távatimsa, and when the gods desired to see him, Sakka sent his chariot, with Mátali, to fetch him. On the way to Távatimsa, Mátali showed the king various hells and heavens and the palaces of various gods and goddesses. Arriving at the Sudhammá Hall, Nimi discoursed to the assembled gods. After staying in Távatimsa for seven clays, he returned to Mithilá to tell his subjects what he had seen.
When, later, his barber told him of the appearance of the first white hair on his head, he, like all his predecessors, handed over the throne to his son and became an ascetic. His son, Kálárajanaka, was the last of the eighty four thousand kings of Makhádeva's dynasty.
The story was told by the Buddha when he visited Mithilá. He smiled when he came to the site of Makhádeva's palace, and when asked why he smiled he related the Játaka.
Anuruddha is identified with Sakka and Ananda with Mátali (J.vi.95 129).
This story forms the basis of the Makhádeva Sutta and is included in the Cariyapitaka.
M.ii.74ff.; in Dpv. (iii. 35) the king is called Nemiya.
Cyp.i.6; CypA.42ff.