Devadatta is the son of Bandaka, an archer who competed with Siddhartha for Princess Yashodara's hand. After Siddhartha abandoned his royal position, Bandaka convinced Siddhartha's father to name him heir to the Shakyan throne. Bandaka failed to win Yashodara and married a noblewoman, fathering Devadatta and later Ananda. Bandaka was killed during a Kosalan invasion.

Devadatta experienced a traumatic childhood, raised by wolves in the forest before Naradatta returned him to human society. This upbringing forged his brutal worldview, the conviction that power governed everything. As a child, trapped in a cave with others after a wild elephant attack during a picnic, Devadatta revealed his nature by killing the other children to monopolize their limited water supply for his own survival.

As an adult, Devadatta became the temporary king of Kapilavastu following Siddhartha's departure. He married a noblewoman and fathered a son, Laxman. His rule was marked by ruthless ambition, pursuing self-interest through any means. Driven by jealousy and resentment toward Siddhartha's spiritual influence as the Buddha, Devadatta attempted to kill him by shooting an arrow. He created a schism within the early Buddhist monastic community and poisoned Buddha according to historical accounts.

Devadatta maintained a complex relationship with his younger half-brother Ananda, who became one of Buddha's most devoted disciples. Despite his antagonism toward Buddha, Devadatta's narrative reflects themes of power, corruption, and the failure to embrace spiritual teachings. His character arc illustrates the consequences of unchecked ambition and violence within the broader exploration of suffering and enlightenment.