Upali belonged to the Shudra caste, the lowest caste in India. They mostly worked as craftsmen or even slaves. Upali was a slave working as a hairdresser in the palace in Kapilavastu, and hence he grew up in the palace with all the princes.

When the Buddha went back to his hometown for the first time after he had left home years earlier, Upali was ordered to give him a haircut. Some royal princes, including Aniruddha and Ananda, decided to join the assembly of monks. They sneaked out late at night with Upali, and asked him to shave their heads.

Upali felt very sad when he realized that these princes were leaving home to become monks. Prince Aniruddha asked him why he looked so sad. "Prince Aniruddha," he replied, "it's just that I realize that all of you will become monks and join the sangha, and you won't be here anymore. You will be traveling all around India."

Aniruddha stared at him sadly. He turned to the other princes. "Upali has been serving us for a long time, and he's been an outstanding hairdresser. Now, since we are leaving home, we can help him with his life. Here's a blanket. Take off your jewels and put them on the blanket, since we won't need them anymore after we join the sangha. Upali can use them to make his life better."

The princes wrapped up all the jewelry in the blanket, handed it over to Upali, said good-bye to him and left. "They have given up their personal pleasures to follow the Buddha and become monks," Upali thought, "If I go home now, the king and everyone else will blame me for allowing the princes to leave home, and they might even kill me for that. So how can I go back? Besides, if princes like them can give up their wealth and become monks, then why can't I?"

So he hung the bundle of jewels on a tree branch. "I also want to become a monk like the princes, so I don't need the jewelry anymore. I'm delighted to offer these to anyone who is lucky enough to come by here and take them."