Jataka Stories

The Bodhisatta was once a quail. He was the leader of many thousands of quails living in the forest. A clever hunter worked this forest and he led quails to him by imitating their call, then throwing his net over the gathered birds. The…

The Bodhisatta was once a prince. His father, King Sanjaya, was wealthy beyond measure and honored by all the other kings of India for his virtue, and his mother, Queen Phusati, was the most beautiful and generous woman in the realm.…

The Bodhisatta was once the son of two ascetics. The chiefs of two hunting villages, long-time friends, vowed they would marry two of their children to each other when they reached the right age. In time, one had a son and the other a…

The Bodhisatta was once a golden mallard. All the birds chose him as their king. He had granted his lovely daughter one wish, and she asked to choose her own husband. So the Bodhisatta called all manner of birds to gather. Taken by his…

The Bodhisatta was once a pigeon. He and the flock he led fed around an ascetic’s forest hut, and visited him from time to time to hear his wise words. After the ascetic had lived there for fifty years, the villagers served him a meal of…

The Bodhisatta was once an ascetic who lived alone in the Himalayas. One time he went down to a city to get salt and seasoning. While out on a morning alms round, the Bodhisatta met a mahout who was very impressed by his demeanor and began…

The Bodhisatta was once a young brahmin in a small village. He spent his life doing good deeds and always kept the five precepts. The other men of the village used to get drunk and commit murder and other crimes. But inspired by the…

The Bodhisatta was once an ox who, along with his younger brother, was owned by a village family. One day a daughter got engaged and the family began to fatten up their pig to serve at her wedding. The young ox noticed that the pig was…

The Bodhisatta was once an ox. His owner treated him like a member of his family and always fed him the best rice. As a result, the Bodhisatta grew up exceptionally strong and completely loyal. He appreciated being so well cared for and one…

The Bodhisatta was once a king’s advisor. One of the king’s elephants was best friends with one of the mahout’s dogs. They always ate together and the dog would swing on the elephant’s trunk. One day a villager bought the dog and took it…