Tamba was a king of Bārāṇasī and his wife was the beautiful Suyonandī. Nāgadīpa was then known as Seruma, and the Bodhisatta was a young Garuḷa living there. He used to go in disguise to Bārāṇasī and play at dice with Tamba. The queen heard of his beauty and contrived to see him, and they fell in love with each other. The Garuḷa, by his power, raised a storm in the city and covered it with darkness, under cover of which he carried off Suyonandī. The king was filled with grief, not knowing what had happened to his queen, as the Garuḷa continued to play at dice with him. Tamba therefore sent Sagga, a minstrel, to search for her. In the course of his wanderings, Sagga came to Bhārukaccha and took ship for Suvaṇṇabhūmi. In the middle of the ocean the sailors asked Sagga to play for them, but Sagga told them that his music would excite the big fish and trouble would ensue. The sailors, however, insisting, Sagga played, and the fish, maddened by the sound, splashed about, and the ship broke in two under the leap of a sea-
The story was related in reference to a love sick monk. Ānanda is identified with Tamba. J.iii.187‑90.