Short answers, pulled from the story.
King Ajātasattu ruled the Magadha kingdom in the fifth century before the common era, with his reign starting approximately in 492 BCE. He inherited a volatile political landscape where ambition often replaced diplomacy.
King Ajātasattu visited the mango groves on a bright uposatha night accompanied by elephants and armed followers. He experienced sudden terror upon entering the grove but eventually prostrated himself before the Buddha seated on the back of a pillar.
King Ajātasattu consulted six revered ascetic teachers who offered responses ranging from fatalism to amorality and agnosticism. One teacher claimed moral conduct led directly to heavenly rewards while another argued that all actions were predetermined by fate regardless of human effort.
The Samaññaphala Sutta describes progressive steps beginning with freedom from servitude for slaves and farmers followed by virtue mindfulness and four jhanic states. Final release frees hearts from all fermentations declaring birth ended holy life fulfilled task done.
Thanissaro Bhikkhu published his translation of the Samaññaphala Sutta in 1997 under the title The Fruits of Contemplative Life. Maurice O'Connell Walshe released an earlier version titled The Long Discourses of the Buddha in 1995.