The Bodhisatta, named Saṅkha, was once born as a brahmin in Takkasilā and had a son, Susīma. When Susīma was about sixteen, he took leave of his father and went to Bārāṇasī to study the Vedas. His teacher, who was a friend of his father’s, taught him all he knew, and then Susīma went to Isipatana, where lived some Pacceka Buddhas. He entered the Order under them, attained Arahantship, and died while yet young. Having heard no news of his son for some time, Saṅkha was alarmed and went to Bārāṇasī in search of him. There, after enquiry, he heard of his son’s death as a Pacceka Buddha, and was shown the shrine erected in his memory. Saṅkha weeded the grass round the shrine, sprinkled sand, watered it, scattered wild flowers round it, and raised aloft his robe as banner over it. He then planted his parasol over the top and departed.

The Buddha related the story to the monks at Rājagaha, after his return from Vesāli, to explain the unparalleled honours he had received during the journey. Because he had uprooted the grass round Susīma’s shrine, a road of eight leagues was prepared for him to journey comfortably; because he had spread sand, his route was also so spread; because he had scattered flowers, his route was covered with flowers; because he had sprinkled water, there was a shower in Vesāli on his arrival; because he had raised a banner and set up a parasol, the whole world-system (cakkavāḷa) was gay with flags and parasols. DhA.iii.445 f; KhpA.198 f. The story is not given in the Jātakaṭṭhakatha.