Grieved by her plight, Moggallana asked Shakyamuni to save his mother. Shakyamuni replied, "Your power alone cannot atone for her sins. You must make offerings to all the monks and ask them to pray for her. Then their prayers will free your mother from the hell of hungry demons." Moggallana did as instructed, and the merit he obtained by making offerings to all the monks delivered his mother from hell.

Although Sariputta was among the Buddha’s foremost disciples and often taught in his place, he remained humble—tidying the monks’ quarters after they left and quietly working to keep the Sangha free from criticism.