The Bodhisatta was once born in the family of the chaplain of the king of Bārāṇasī and was educated in Takkasilā, with the king’s son. They became great friends, and, when the prince became viceroy, they lived together. The prince, having conceived the plan of killing his father in order to become king, confided this idea to Saṅkicca. The latter tried to dissuade him, but finding his efforts in vain, he fled to the Himavā, where he became an ascetic. The prince killed his father, but was later filled with remorse and could find no peace of mind. He longed to see Saṅkicca, but it was not until fifty years later that Saṅkicca, with five hundred followers, came to the garden of Dayāpassa in Bārāṇasī. The king visited him and questioned him on the results of wickedness. Saṅkicca described the horrors of hell awaiting the wicked, illustrating his story with stories of Ajjuna, who annoyed the sage Gotama; of Daṇḍaki, who defied Kisavaccha; of the king of Mejjha, whose country became a desert; of the Andhavenhudāsaputtā who assailed Dīpāyana; and of Cecca, swallowed up by the earth.

After describing the terrors awaiting the victims of various hells, Saṅkicca showed the king the deva worlds and ended his discourse, indicating the possibility of making amends.

The king was much comforted and changed his ways.

He is identified with Ajātasattu, in reference to whose parricide and its consequences the story was related. It was not until Ajātasattu sought the Buddha and listened to his teaching that he found peace of mind. J.v.261-77.