Jataka

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Jataka[]

Jataka Tales are Birth Stories, 547 tales of the Buddha's former lives during his long journey as a Bodhisattva aspiring for enlightenment & Buddhahood. These are not merely stories of his past, rather these were also used by Buddha to inspire many disciples on the path to enlightenment and it is enlightenment & nirvana which was the foremost goal for the Buddha which he wanted to kindle in many people. From these we also come to know that Lord Buddha was the Lord Ram (as in 461.Dasaratha-Jātaka); in previous life, also at the time of Lord Krishna he was his ninth brother called Ghata Pandita (454.Ghata-Jātaka2); also he was Agatsya Rishi (480.Akitta-Jātaka); and he was also the Matanga Rishi (497.Mātaṅga-Jātaka). Also mentioned is his being son of the king Okkaka( Ikshvaku in 531. Kusa-Jātaka). He also appears as Krishnadipayana Rishi (in 444.Kaṇhadīpāyana-Jātaka) and Mahajanaka (in 539.Mahajanaka-Jataka).

The concept of rebirth(reincarnation) is central to Buddhism (and also to many other Indian religions such as Hinduism etc.); according to this, every being is actually immortal but faces many rebirths & fates , bad or good, according to one's karma(acts/decisions) ; in many realms and as born as different types of creatures. Good karma leads rebirth as higher type of creature such as human, angel(god) or archangel(Brahma). Bad karma can lead to rebirth in the 4 planes of woe such as animal(or bird,fish,insect etc), hungry ghost(Peta sans. Preta), demons(Asura who practice violence & evil) & Hells(Narak of many types); Buddha says that in planes of woe , the bad types of creatures harm others, destroy others & consume them. In any plane , good decisions(to help others) lead to upliftment & those who continue to harm others, get more degradation. In suttas below, it appears that the hells are below the surface of earth probably in the molten rocks(lava) but in unseen dimensions; and heavens are in upper directions (also in unseen dimensions). We have to understand that visible world is less than 5 percent and unseen dimensions are the rest which science also calls as Dark matter & dark energy. Nirvana/Moksha : Finally when all evil attributes are eliminated by practicing good morality, good actions & meditation , then the perfect one is called Arahat/Arihant and will never be reborn in any plane of rebirth ; rather one will merge with the Nirvanic state which is infinite(anant), eternal(niccha/nitya) & ultimate bliss forever(Amata/Amrit).

(Many common terms found in the tales are presented at the end of this page. )

Book I.--Ekanipāta:

1. Apaṇṇaka-Jātaka-Advice to the backsliding ones ; Past rebirth story about 2 merchants, one unwise who lost everything & perished by following the wrong advice & other (Buddha in past life) who wisely saw through the traps laid.

2. Vaṇṇupatha-Jātaka-Advice to a Monk who gave up persisting in path. Past life story of Buddha, in desert, when he persisted in digging a well, found water & saved all.

3. Serivāṇija-Jātaka-Advice to a Monk who gave up persisting in path. Past life story of a hawker(was Devdatta) who lost a golden bowl worth a hundred thousand coins.

4. Cullaka-Seṭṭhi-Jātaka - How a disheartened monk was miraculously helped by Buddha in meditation, became enlightened in a short while and displayed a miracle of multiplying himself a thousand times when all monks were away from monastery.

5. Taṇḍulanāli-Jātaka - A dullard monk who did not distribute food properly; in past life too he valued 500 horses & entire kingdom to a measure of rice.

6. Devadhamma-Jātaka - About modesty for monks; A rich person, on becoming a monk, lived in plenty brought from home, when questioned he, in anger, disrobed himself & in loincloth he said, he would go on like that; He was told that in past life he was a water yakkha who devoured those people who did not answer his question on what is god like conduct, Buddha answered & also saved yakkha from further sin.

7. Kaṭṭhahāri-Jātaka - About caste & racism; Unknowingly a slave girl was married to the King of Kosala and made queen, when he came to know, he degraded her position to slave, but was advised by Buddha as equal & her position restored;He told a similar story of his own past life when he was born from a common girl to a king, king had given his ring to her; later when she came to claim her position, how Buddha convinced him with a miracle.

8. Gāmani-Jātaka - Full story in Jataka 462;About patience; a monk who gave up persisting in path was helped by Buddha who told past life story when Buddha advised the youngest prince to help the king & all others entire life & upon king's death, even gave up fight with brothers but was installed as the King for being good.

9. Makhādeva-Jātaka - About past renunciations of Buddha; In past lives also he did renunciation for ascetic life; in the story as King Makhadeva, when a barber finds a single grey hair, king was filled with remorse & did renunciation, gave kingdom to his son & retired to mango grave as ascetic.

10. Sukhavihāri-Jātaka - About happiness gained from the Path. A former king (now an arahat monk) used to live in fear, now lived in bliss; In former birth also he had renounced his kingdom & lived in bliss.

11. Lakkhaṇa-Jātaka About division created by Devdatta & left with 500 monks, Sariputta preached them & brought them back; Buddha praises Sariputta that in a previous life when he was a stag, his son (now Sariputta) had brought back the herd safely from forest;

12. Nigrodhamiga-Jātaka - About Buddha saving a pregnant nun who gave birth to Arihant Kashyapa . A rich lady not knowing that she was pregnant joined the nuns order under Devdatta(who created schism later). Later upon being known as pregnant she was expelled by Devdatta. But she was saved & admitted again by Lord Buddha & gave birth to Kashyapa & both earned Arihantship. Lord Buddha tells her past life story when they were all born as deer & were captured by King for food, turn by turn. She was pregnant when her turn came to be killed. But Lord Buddha then as king of deer, spared her & instead went himself in her turn. Upon seen his morality ,the king spared the lives of all creatures.

13. Kaṇḍina-Jātaka - About a monk who was love-sick thinking about the woman who was his wife before joining the monkhood. Lord Buddha told his earlier life story when he was a stag & became attached to a doe(female deer) in jungle. When a hunter came, sensing danger, the doe told the stag to move ahead & so stag was killed by hunter. The doe ran away. The hunter skinned, grilled & ate the meat of the stag & took away the rest. Hence passion leads to great danger. Also told are 3 condemnations.

14. Vātamiga-Jātaka - About bondage of taste of tongue. A monk was bound by taste of tongue into leaving the monkhood by a servant girl setup by his parent to bring him back. She stood first on his round of alms, offered him choicest food then made him give up by calling him into her house then sent to his parents. Lord Buddha stated in his past life too when he was a shy antelope who used to run away on sight of humans, he was setup by a person using snare of honeyed grass on his path & brought to palace of a king for capture.

15. Kharādiya-Jātaka - About indiscipline. A monk was unruly. Lord Buddha told his past life story when he was a baby deer and did not follow instructions of training and got killed by getting caught in a snare setup by a hunter.

16. Tipallattha-Miga-Jātaka - About following discipline & learning. Once Rahul son of Lord Buddha was denied lodging when he was a novice monk due to a rule. So he had to sleep in open but he did not complain. Next day Lord Buddha modified the rule so that novice monks do not have to undergo that treatment. Later he was praised by other monks for being patient & humble. Lord Buddha told that in his past life as a stag, he was keen in learning. So once when he was caught in a hunter's snare he played dead & as soon as hunter released him, he ran away & saved himself.

17. Māluta-Jātaka - About a discussion between 2 monks on cold. They did not agree on which half of month has cold. Lord Buddha told them that in their past lives too they asked & he answered the same question when they were born as lion & tiger. He said the cold happens when wind blows.

18. Matakabhatta-Jātaka - On animal sacrifice. A man killed goat then later was reborn as goat 500 times & was killed as punishment.

19. Āyācitabhatta-Jātaka - On animal sacrifice. When a man killed several creatures as sacrifice to a fairy, the tree fairy taught him that it rather creates problems.

20. Naḷapāna-Jātaka - About a pool of water & hollow canes growing there while Lord Buddha & his monks were on journey. Past life story in which Lord Buddha as leader of monkeys prevented death of other monkeys at the same place by drinking water using long hollow canes because an ogre was present in the water. Also mentioned are 4 miracles that shall remain through the era(kappa/kalpa).

21. Kuruṅga-Jātaka - On Devdatta trying to kill Lord Buddha. Buddha told a story of past lives when he was an antelope & Devdatta was a hunter. The hunter made platform on tree & threw its fruit to ground, but Buddha sensing trouble, seeing fruit falling sideways, saved his life.

22. Kukkura-Jātaka - About non-violence. In a long past life when Lord Buddha was born as a Dog Bodhissatva, a king's leather items were gnawed by pet dogs but king thinking about wild dogs ordered killings of all dogs. The Bodhissatva went to king and made pet dogs eat grass with buttermilk to vomit & see the evidence. Then he taught virue to the King & saved lives of all dogs.

23. Bhojājānīya-Jātaka - About persisting in the path even when facing diffulty. In a past life Lord Buddha was born as a horse bodhisattava. He was a war horse which fought battle inspite of deadly wounds & helped win the war.

24. Ājañña-Jātaka - About persisting in the path. The past life story is similar to previous but here there were 2 horses in the chariot.

25. Tittha-Jātaka - About reading thoughts to find solutions by Lord Buddha. A goldsmith monk could not progress, when brought to Buddha, he was made to see a lotus which withered with time, making him realize that decay affects all, thereafter in meditation he became enlightened. In a past life, Lord Buddha took care of a royal horse which would not drink nor bath on a spot where other horse had done it. So knowing that its place was changed & so found solution.

26. Mahilāmukha-Jātaka - About knowing thoughts & finding solution by Lord Buddha. A monk was eating rival's food, when brought to Lord Buddha he was told past life story of an elephabt who became cruel by listening to evil talk of thieves at night. On advice of bodhisattva, when talk of goodwill was spoken near it, it became good again.

27. Abhiṇha-Jātaka - About knowing thoughts & finding solution by Lord Buddha. A monk & his lay friend spent a lot of time together. On being told to Buddha, he told their past life story when one was royal elephant & other was a dog, both grew fond of each other & also ate together. When dog was taken away by a man the elephant became sad & did not eat. On advice of a wise minister(bodhisattva), an announcement was made, then dog was returned & both became happy together.

28. Nandivisāla-Jātaka - About speaking kind words. Once Lord Buddha was born as a bull. When unkind words were used to him he did not move carts, causing loss to owner, but when spoken kindly, he made the owner win lots of money.

29. Kaṇha-Jātaka About Buddha being unequal. At a time Buddha showed miracles & then went to heaven with body. On his return, monks were discussing how unequal Buddha is. Upon learning that , Buddha told them that he was unequal in past lives too, in a past life story, when he was a black bull, he pulled 500 carts across a river & received high pay.

30. Muṇika-Jātaka - About seduction. When a young monk was love-struck for a girl, Lord Buddha told him his past life story when as a pig he was made into curry for the marriage of same girl.

31. Kulāvaka-Jātaka - About 5 silas(morals). Also a beautiful past life about love, courage, sacrifice, gods etc. & how he attained heaven's kingdom with the 5 silas in past life; Once as human, Lord Buddha maintained 5 silas, so he was protected even in danger of death. He was helped by many & also by 4 ladies in charity work. Then after his life was over he became king of gods(angels) in heaven & his helpers were also born there in heaven. There also he followed silas and for saving lives of bird fledglings , he was ready to give up in war with asuras(demons) but again was helped by Dhamma making Asuras flee. His earthly helper(lady Suja) was born as daughter of king of asuras & how he married her in disguise to save her.

32. Nacca-Jātaka - About modesty & shamefulness. A monk had many belongings & clothes, when objected, he threw away all clothes & swore to remain naked, but when again he was objected. He left the monastary, monkhood & went back to worldly life thus lost the faith. His tale of pastlife was told by Buddha when the man was born as a peacock. When a golden duck chose him, he started dancing before all showing his feathers & nakedness in public so was rejected. In this way he lost the wife.

33. Sammodamāna-Jātaka - Buddha gave discourse in his hometown Kapilavastu to his family regarding maintaining harmony between his & his in laws so as not to go to war for issues raised in Kunala Jataka(536). In the past life Buddha was a quail. He taught his family to escape hunter by flying all at once with the hunter's cast net. Later he left his flock when some started quarrel. then the remaining ones got caught.

34. Maccha-Jātaka - A monk love-struck by his former wife was told his past life story when he was a fish & how he was caught in net of a fisherman while playing with his wife who escaped, then he was upset about losing his wife. He was then saved by a priest.

35. Vaṭṭaka-Jātaka

36. Sakuṇa-Jātaka

37. Tittira-Jātaka

38. Baka-Jātaka

39. Nanda-Jātaka

40. Khadiraṅgāra-Jātaka

41. Losaka-Jātaka

42. Kapota-Jātaka

43. Veḷuka-Jātaka

44. Makasa-Jātaka

45. Rohiṇī-Jātaka

46. Ārāmadūsaka-Jātaka

47. Vāruṇi-Jātaka

48. Vedabbha-Jātaka

49. Nakkhatta-Jātaka

50. Dummedha-Jātaka

51. Mahāsīlava-Jātaka

52. Cūḷa-Janaka-Jātaka

53. Puṇṇapāti-Jātaka

54. Phala-Jātaka

55. Pañcāvudha-Jātaka

56. Kañcanakkhandha-Jātaka

57. Vānarinda-Jātaka

58. Tayodhamma-Jātaka

59. Bherivāda-Jātaka

60. Saṁkhadhamana-Jātaka

61. Asātamanta-Jātaka - Sorrow Texts. A pupil learns Sorrow texts the hard way (about attraction to opposite sex).

62. Aṇḍabhūta-Jātaka

63. Takka-Jātaka

64. Durājāna-Jātaka

65. Anabhirati-Jātaka

66. Mudulakkhaṇa-Jātaka - About sexual passion, how it causes downfall even of saints

67. Ucchaṅga-Jātaka

68. Sāketa-Jātaka

69. Visavanta-Jātaka

70. Kuddāla-Jātaka

71. Varaṇa-Jātaka

72. Sīlavanāga-Jātaka

73. Saccaṁkira-Jātaka

74. Rukkhadhamma-Jātaka

75. Maccha-Jātaka2 - Buddha miraculously causes rain to appear in the time of drought

76. Asaṁkiya-Jātaka

77. Mahāsupina-Jātaka - King of Kosala has 16 dreams about future and explaining these, Buddha foretells mankind's moral degradation in times to come by.

78. Illīsa-Jātaka - Real story of conversion of a miser, who wanted to eat good food alone, but sees Buddha's disciples come by air to teach; later also sees Buddha giving food from a basket that never became empty.Then Buddha tells old life tale about a miser & fate of his wealth.

79. Kharassara-Jātaka

80. Bhīmasena-Jātaka

81. Surāpāna-Jātaka - Evil of intoxication; Real story of an elder monk with magical powers, who became powerless when drunk; Old life story of disciples who, when offered liqueur in alms by a King, forgot all teaching.

82. Mittavinda-Jātaka

83. Kālakaṇṇi-Jātaka

84. Atthassadvāra-Jātaka

85. Kimpakka-Jātaka

86. Sīlavīmaṁsana-Jātaka

87. Maṁgala-Jātaka

88. Sārambha-Jātaka

89. Kuhaka-Jātaka

90. Akataññu-Jātaka

91. Litta-Jātaka

92. Mahāsāra-Jātaka

93. Vissāsabhojana-Jātaka

94. Lomahaṁsa-Jātaka

95. Mahāsudassana-Jātaka

96. Telapatta-Jātaka

97. Nāmasiddhi-Jātaka

98. Kūṭavāṇija-Jātaka

99. Parosahassa-Jātaka

100. Asātarūpa-Jātaka

101. Parosata-Jātaka

102. Paṇṇika-Jātaka

103. Veri-Jātaka

104. Mittavinda-Jātaka2

105. Dubbalakaṭṭha-Jātaka

106. Udañcani-Jātaka

107. Sālittaka-Jātaka

108. Bāhiya-Jātaka

109. Kuṇḍakapūva-Jātaka

110. Sabbasaṁhāraka-Pañha

111. Gadrabha-Pañha

112. Amarādevī-Pañha

113. Sigāla-Jātaka

114. Mitacinti-Jātaka

115. Anusāsika-Jātaka

116. Dubbaca-Jātaka

117. Tittira-Jātaka2

118. Vaṭṭaka-Jātaka2

119. Akālarāvi-Jātaka

120. Bandhanamokkha-Jātaka - About lady Chincha who falsely accuses Buddha faking a pregnancy , gets exposed, then Buddha tells about her former life as a queen who lusted for 64 messengers of king.

121. Kusanāḷi-Jātaka

122. Dummedha-Jātaka2

123. Naṅgalīsa-Jātaka

124. Amba-Jātaka

125. Kaṭāhaka-Jātaka

126. Asilakkhaṇa-Jātaka

127. Kalaṇḍuka-Jātaka

128. Biḷāra-Jātaka

129. Aggika-Jātaka

130. Kosiya-Jātaka

131. Asampadāna-Jātaka

132. Pañcagaru-Jātaka

133. Ghatāsana-Jātaka

134. Jhānasodhana-Jātaka

135. Candābha-Jātaka

136. Suvaṇṇahaṁsa-Jātaka

137. Babbu-Jātaka

138. Godha-Jātaka

139. Ubhatobhaṭṭha-Jātaka

140. Kāka-Jātaka

141. Godha-Jātaka2

142. Sigāla-Jātaka2

143. Virocana-Jātaka

144. Naṅguṭṭha-Jātaka

145. Rādha-Jātaka

146. Kāka-Jātaka2

147. Puppharatta-Jātaka

148. Sigāla-Jātaka3

149. Ekapaṇṇa-Jātaka

150. Sañjīva-Jātaka

Book II. Dukanipāta:

151. Rājovāda-Jātaka

152. Sigāla-Jātaka4

153. Sūkara-Jātaka

154. Uraga-Jātaka

155. Gagga-Jātaka

156. Alīnacitta-Jātaka

157. Guṇa-Jātaka

158. Suhanu-Jātaka

159. Mora-Jātaka

160. Vinīlaka-Jātaka

161. Indasamānagotta-Jātaka

162. Santhava-Jātaka

163. Susīma-Jātaka

164. Gijjha-Jātaka

165. Nakula-Jātaka

166. Upasāḷha-Jātaka

167. Samiddhi-Jātaka

168. Sakuṇagghi-Jātaka

169. Araka-Jātaka

170. Kakaṇṭaka-Jātaka

171. Kalyāṇa-Dhamma-Jātaka

172. Daddara-Jātaka

173. Makkaṭa-Jātaka

174. Dūbhiya-Makkaṭa-Jātaka

175. Ādiccupaṭṭhāna-Jātaka

176. Kalāya-Muṭṭhi-Jātaka

177. Tiṇḍuka-Jātaka

178. Kacchapa-Jātaka

179. Satadhamma-Jātaka

180. Duddada-Jātaka

181. Asadisa-Jātaka

182. Saṁgāmāvacara-Jātaka

183. Vālodaka-Jātaka

184. Giridanta-Jātaka

185. Anabhirati-Jātaka2

186. Dadhi-Vāhana-Jātaka

187. Catumaṭṭa-Jātaka

188. Sīhakoṭṭhuka-Jātaka

189. Sīhacamma-Jātaka

190. Sīlānisaṁsa-Jātaka

191. Ruhaka-Jātaka

192. Siri-Kāḷakaṇṇi-Jātaka

193. Culla-Paduma-Jātaka

194. Maṇicora-Jātaka

195. Pabbatūpatthara-Jātaka

196. Valāhassa-Jātaka

197. Mittāmitta-Jātaka

198. NONAME-Jataka -See no evil; Story of two parrot brothers, one of them tells truth of evil & loses life

199. Gahapati-Jātaka

200. Sādhusīla-Jātaka

201. Bandhanāgāra-Jātaka

202. Keḷi-Sīla-Jātaka

203. Khandha-Vatta-Jātaka

204. Vīraka-Jātaka

205. Gaṅgeyya-Jātaka

206. Kuruṅga-Miga-Jātaka - Friendship; About Devadatta trying to kill Buddha; Old life story of 3 friends deer, woodpecker & tortoise, how they saved themselves from a hunter by cooperating together.

207. Assaka-Jātaka - Love-sickness; A monk lovesick of late wife; Old life story of a king in grief about dead queen, but queen was reborn as dung worm & denounces king & rather loves its mate dung-worm.

208. Suṁsumāra-Jātaka

209. Kakkara-Jātaka

210. Kandagalaka-Jātaka

211. Somadatta-Jātaka

212. Ucchiṭṭha-Bhatta-Jātaka

213. Bharu-Jātaka - Bribe; A group of people of different faith bribed king to have adjacent monastery to Lord Buddha's in order to disturb Buddha's disciples; Old life tale of two quarreling groups of hermits.

214. Puṇṇa-Nadī-Jātaka

215. Kacchapa-Jātaka2

216. Maccha-Jātaka3

217. Seggu-Jātaka

218. Kūṭa-Vāṇija-Jātaka

219. Garahita-Jātaka

220. Dhammaddhaja-Jātaka

221. Kāsāva-Jātaka

222. Cūla-Nandiya-Jātaka

223. Puṭa-Bhatta-Jātaka

224. Kumbhīla-Jātaka

225. Khanti-Vaṇṇana-Jātaka

226. Kosiya-Jātaka2

227. Gūtha-Pāṇa-Jātaka

228. Kāmanīta-Jātaka

229. Palāyi-Jātaka

230. Dutiya-Palāyi-Jātaka

231. Upāhana-Jātaka

232. Vīṇā-Thūṇa-Jātaka

233. Vikaṇṇaka-Jātaka

234. Asitābhū-Jātaka

235. Vaccha-Nakha-Jātaka

236. Baka-Jātaka2

237. Sāketa-Jātaka2

238. Ekapada-Jātaka

239. Harita-Māta-Jātaka

240. Mahāpiṅgala-Jātaka

241. Sabbadāṭha-Jātaka

242. Sunakha-Jātaka

243. Guttila-Jātaka

244. Vīticcha-Jātaka

245. Mūla-Pariyāya-Jātaka

246. Telovāda-Jātaka

247. Pādañjali-Jātaka

248. Kiṁsukopama-Jātaka

249. Sālaka-Jātaka

250. Kapi-Jātaka

Book III. Tika-Nipāta:

251. Saṁkappa-Jātaka

252. Tila-Muṭṭhi-Jātaka

253. Maṇi-Kaṇṭha-Jātaka

254. Kuṇḍaka-Kucchi-Sindhava-Jātaka

255. Suka-Jātaka

256. Jarudapāna-Jātaka

257. Gāmaṇi-Caṇḍa-Jātaka

258. Mandhātu-Jātaka - Desires are unending; A monk had desire for a woman; Old life tale of a king who desired to gain heaven, he did but when he had another desire of sole dominion over heaven by killing co-ruler of heaven , he lost it & came back on earth again.

259. Tirīṭa-Vaccha-Jātaka

260. Dūta-Jātaka

261. Paduma-Jātaka

262. Mudu-Pāṇi-Jātaka

263. Culla-Palobhana-Jātaka - Futile is sexual love; A monk became attracted to a woman; Old life story of a prince who became attached to a woman, became violent, was banished, saw a flying ascetic & so he became determined to become ascetic too ;

264. Mahā-Panāda-Jātaka

265. Khurappa-Jātaka

266. Vātagga-Sindhava-Jātaka

267. Kakkatā-Jātaka

268. Ārāma-Dūsa-Jātaka

269. Sujāta-Jātaka

270. Ulūka-Jātaka

271. Udapāna-Dūsaka-Jātaka

272. Vyaggha-Jātaka

273. Kacchapa-Jātaka3

274. Lola-Jātaka

275. NONAME-Jātaka2

276. Kurudhamma-Jātaka

277. Romaka-Jātaka

278. Mahisa-Jātaka

279. Satapatta-Jātaka

280. Puṭa-Dūsaka-Jātaka

281. Abbhantara-Jātaka - About wife of Buddha, joining the order as a nun in monastery & how she became sick and was provided with mango juice & sugar brought as alms from king's place.

282. Seyya-Jātaka

283. Vaḍḍhaki-Sūkara-Jātaka

284. Siri-Jātaka

285. Maṇisūkara-Jātaka

286. Sālūka-Jātaka

287. Lābha-Garaha-Jātaka

288. Macch-Uddāna-Jātaka

289. Nāna-Cchanda-Jātaka

290. Sīla-Vīmaṁsa-Jātaka

291. Bhadra-Ghaṭa-Jātaka

292. Supatta-Jātaka - About wife of Buddha (a nun now in monastery) who became sick and was given rice & fish brought from king in alms by Buddha's chief followers

293. Kāya-Vicchinda-Jātaka

294. Jambu-Khādaka-Jātaka

295. Anta-Jātaka

296. Samudda-Jātaka

297. Kāma-Vilāpa-Jātaka

298. Udumbara-Jātaka

299. Komāya-Putta-Jātaka

300. Vaka-Jātaka

Book IV. CATUKKANIPATA:

301. Cullakāliṅga-Jātaka

302. Mahāassāroha-Jātaka

303. Ekarāja-Jātaka

304. Daddara-Jātaka2

305. Sīlavīmaṁsana-Jātaka2

306. Sujāta-Jātaka2

307. Palāsa-Jātaka

308. Javasakuṇa-Jātaka

309. Chavaka-Jātaka

310. Sayha-Jātaka

311. Pucimanda-Jātaka

312. Kassapamandiya-Jātaka

313. Khantivādi-Jātaka

314. Lohakumbhi-Jātaka

315. Maṁsa-Jātaka

316. Sasa-Jātaka

317. Matarodana-Jātaka

318. Kanavera-Jātaka

319. Tittira-Jātaka3

320. Succaja-Jātaka

321. Kuṭidūsaka-Jātaka

322. Daddabha-Jātaka

323. Brahmadatta-Jātaka

324. Cammasāṭaka-Jātaka

325. Godha-Jātaka3

326. Kakkāru-Jātaka

327. Kākāti-Jātaka

328. Ananusociya-Jātaka

329. Kālabāhu-Jātaka

330. Sīlavīmaṁsa-Jātaka

331. Kokālika-Jātaka

332. Rathalaṭṭhi-Jātaka

333. Godha-Jātaka4

334. Rājovāda-Jātaka2

335. Jambuka-Jātaka

336. Brahāchatta-Jātaka

337. Pīṭha-Jātaka

338. Thusa-Jātaka

339. Bāveru-Jātaka

340. Visayha-Jātaka

341. Kaṇḍari-Jātaka

342. Vānara-Jātaka

343. Kuntani-Jātaka

344. Ambacora-Jātaka

345. Gajakumbha-Jātaka

346. Kesava-Jātaka

347. Ayakūṭa-Jātaka

348. Arañña-Jātaka

349. Sandhibheda-Jātaka

350. Devatāpañha-Jātaka

Book V. PANCANIPATA:

351. Maṇikuṇḍala-Jātaka

352. Sujāta-Jātaka3

353. Dhonasākha-Jātaka

354. Uraga-Jātaka2

355. Ghata-Jātaka

356. Kāraṇḍiya-Jātaka

357. Laṭukika-Jātaka

358. Culladhammapāla-Jātaka

359. Suvaṇṇamiga-Jātaka

360. Sussondi-Jātaka

361. Vaṇṇāroha-Jātaka

362. Sīlavīmaṁsa-Jātaka2

363. Hiri-Jātaka

364. Khajjopanaka-Jātaka

365. Ahiguṇḍika-Jātaka

366. Gumbiya-Jātaka

367. Sāliya-Jātaka

368. Tacasāra-Jātaka

369. Mittavinda-Jātaka3

370. Palāsa-Jātaka2

371. Dīghitikosala-Jātaka

372. Migapotaka-Jātaka

373. Mūsika-Jātaka

374. Culladhanuggaha-Jātaka

375. Kapota-Jātaka2

Book VI. CHANIPATA:

376. Avāriya-Jātaka

377. Setaketu-Jātaka

378. Darīmukha-Jātaka

379. Neru-Jātaka

380. Āsaṅka-Jātaka

381. Migālopa-Jātaka

382. Sirikālakaṇṇi-Jātaka

383. Kukkuṭa-Jātaka

384. Dhammaddhaja-Jātaba

385. Nandiyamiga-Jātaka

386. Kharaputta-Jātaka

387. Sūci-Jātaka

388. Tuṇḍila-Jātaka

389. Suvaṇṇakakkaṭa-Jātaka

390. Mayhaka-Jātaka

391. Dhajaviheṭha-Jātaka

392. Bhisapuppha-Jātaka

393. Vighāsa-Jātaka

394. Vaṭṭaka-Jātaka3

395. Kāka-Jātaka3

Book VII. SATTANIPATA:

396. Kukku-Jātaka

397. Manoja-Jātaka

398. Sutano-Jātaka

399. Gijjha-Jātaka2

400. Dabbhapuppha-Jātaka

401. Dasaṇṇaka-Jātaka

402. Sattubhasta-Jātaka

403. Aṭṭhisena-Jātaka

404. Kapi-Jātaka2

405. Baka-Brahma-Jātaka

406. Gandhāra-Jātaka

407. Mahākapi-Jātaka

408. Kumbhakāra-Jātaka

409. Daḷhadhamma-Jātaka

410. Somadatta-Jātaka2

411. Susīma-Jātaka2

412. Koṭisimbali-Jātaka

413. Dhūmakāri-Jātaka

414. Jāgara-Jātaka

415. Kummāsapiṇḍa-Jātaka

416. Parantapa-Jātaka

Book VIII. ATTHA-NIPATA:

417. Kaccāni-Jātaka

418. Aṭṭhasadda-Jātaka

419. Sulasā-Jātaka

420. Sumaṅgala-Jātaka

421. Gaṅgamāla-Jātaka

422. Cetiya-Jātaka

423. Indriya-Jātaka

424. Āditta-Jātaka

425. Aṭṭhāna-Jātaka

426. Dīpi-Jātaka

Book IX. NAVANIPATA:

427. Gijjha-Jātaka3

428. Kosambī-Jātaka

429. Mahāsuka-Jātaka

430. Cullasuka-Jātaka

431. Hārita-Jātaka

432. Padakusalamāṇava-Jātaka

433. Lomasakassapa-Jātaka

434. Cakkavāka-Jātaka

435. Haliddirāga-Jātaka

436. Samugga-Jātaka

437. Pūtimaṅsa-Jātaka

438. Tittira-Jātaka4

Book X. DASA-NIPATA:

439. Catu-Dvāra-Jātaka

440. Kaṇha-Jātaka2 - Story Buddha told at Kapilavastu (his hometown) when he was born as a brahmin earlier and asked Sakka boons for holy life only.

441. Catu-Posathika-Jātaka

442. Saṅkha-Jātaka

443. Culla-Bodhi-Jātaka

444. Kaṇhadīpāyana-Jātaka

445. Nigrodha-Jātaka

446. Takkaḷa-Jātaka

447. Mahā-Dhamma-Pāla-Jātaka

448. Kukkuṭa-Jātaka2

449. Maṭṭa-Kuṇḍali-Jātaka

450. Biḷāri-Kosiya-Jātaka

451. Cakka-Vāka-Jātaka

452. Bhūri-Pañha-Jātaka

453. Mahā-Maṅgala-Jātaka - Buddha teaches futility of believing in omens & signs of fate and then tells what should be practiced in its place

454. Ghata-Jātaka2 - Story of Krishna & Balram , Buddha was their brother named Ghatpandita

Book XI. EKADASA-NIPATA:

455. Māti-Posaka-Jātaka

456. Juṇha-Jātaka

457. Dhamma-Jātaka

458. Udaya-Jātaka

459. Pānīya-Jātaka

460. Yuvañjaya-Jātaka

461. Dasaratha-Jātaka - Story of Ram, Laksman & Sita. Buddha admits that he was Ram in a previous birth

462. Saṁvara-Jātaka

463. Suppāraka-Jātaka

Book XII. DVADASA-NIPATA:

464. Culla-Kuṇāla-Jātaka

465. Bhadda-Sāla-Jātaka - How hatred based on caste causes destruction

466. Samudda-Vāṇija-Jātaka - Death of Devadatta the heretic & opponent of Buddha, who caused schism in the order

467. Kāma-Jātaka

468. Janasandha-Jātaka

469. Mahā-Kaṇha-Jātaka

470. Kosiya-Jātaka3

471. Meṇḍaka-Jātaka

472. Mahā-Paduma-Jātaka

473. Mittāmitta-Jātaka2

Book XIII. TERASA-NIPATA:

474. Amba-Jātaka2

475. Phandana-Jātaka

476. Javana-Haṁsa-Jātaka

477. Culla-Nārada-Jātaka

478. Dūta-Jātaka2

479. Kāliṅga-Bodhi-Jātaka - Buddha performs a miracle of instant growing Bo(Pipal)-tree at Jetavana Monastery with seed taken from original Bodhi-tree (from Gaya).

480. Akitta-Jātaka - Buddha was the Agatsya Rishi

481. Takkāriya-Jātaka

482. Ruru-Jātaka

483. Sarabha-Miga-Jātaka- Buddha performs a miracle of an instant growing Mango tree, then flies in air and then goes to heaven world to teach gods(angels) there & then after three months descended to earth in another city.

Book XIV. PAKINNAKA-NIPATA :

484. Sālikedāra-Jātaka

485. Canda-Kinnara-Jātaka - Buddha return to his kingdom (Kapilavastu) for the first time after attaining enlightenment and meets his weeping wife who had also taken to the simple life like a nun when he had left. He praises her good qualities and tells an ealier birth story that she had been faithful in previous lives too.

486. Mahā-Ukkusa-Jātaka

487. Uddālaka-Jātaka

488. Bhisa-Jātaka

489. Suruci-Jātaka

490. Pañc-Ūposatha-Jātaka

491. Mahā-Mora-Jātaka

492. Taccha-Sūkara-Jātaka

493. Mahā-Vāṇija-Jātaka

494. Sādhīna-Jātaka

495. Dasa-Brāhmaṇa-Jātaka

496. Bhikkhā-Parampara-Jātaka

Book XV. VISATI-NIPATA:

497. Mātaṅga-Jātaka - Buddha was the Matanga Rishi

498. Citta-Sambhūta-Jātaka

499. Sivi-Jātaka

500. Sirimanda-Jātaka

501. Rohanta-Miga-Jātaka

502. Haṁsa-Jātaka

503. Sattigumba-Jātaka

504. Bhallāṭiya-Jātaka

505. Somanassa-Jataka

506. Campeyya-Jātaka

507. Mahā-Palobhana-Jātaka

508. Pañca-Paṇḍita Jātaka

509. Hatthi-Pāla Jātaka

510. Ayoghara-Jātāka

Book XVI. TIMSANIPATA:

511. Kiṁchanda-Jātaka

512. Kumbha-Jātaka

513. Jayaddisa-Jātaka

514. Chaddanta-Jataka

515. Sambhava-Jātaka

516. Mahākapi-Jātaka2

517. Dakarakkhasa-Jātaka

518. Paṇḍara-Jātaka

519. Sambula-Jātaka

520. Gaṇḍatindu-Jātaka

Book XVII. CATTALISANIPATA:

521. Tesakuṇa-Jātaka

522. Sarabhaṅga-Jātaka

523. Alambusā-Jātaka

524. Saṁkhapāla-Jātaka

525. Culla-Sutasoma-Jātaka

Book XVIII. PANNASANIPATA:

526. Naḷinikā-Jātaka

527. Ummadantī-Jātaka

528. Mahābodhi-Jātaka

Book XIX. SATTHINIPATA:

529. Sonaka-Jātaka

530. Saṁkicca-Jātaka

Book XX. SATTATINIPATA:

531. Kusa-Jātaka

532. Sona-Nanda-Jātaka

Book XXI. ASITINIPATA:

533. Cullahaṁsa-Jātaka - Devadatta the heretic tries to kill Buddha with the help of king's drunken elephant Nalagiri, but Buddha survives and tames the elephant.

534. Mahāhaṁsa-Jātaka

535. Sudhābhojana-Jātaka

536. Kuṇāla-Jātaka - Buddha displays a miracle of levitating in air; preaches & stops a war between his clan(Shakya) and his wife's clan(Koliya) ; later flies in air with 500 monks to show them Himalayas from above.

537. Mahā-Sutasoma-Jātaka

Book XXII. MAHANIPATA:

538. Muga-Pakkha-Jataka

539. Mahajanaka-Jataka

540. Sama-Jataka

541. Nimi-Jataka - Descriptions of hell and heaven

542. The-Khandahala-Jataka - Devadatta tried to kill Buddha using king's 130 archers, Buddha survives & converts them all, then tells a story of past life about Devadatta when he was a king who desired to reach heaven by killing all his family by sacrifice as conspired by his priest.

543. Bhuridatta-Jataka

544. Mahanaradakassapa-Jataka

545. Vidhurapandita-Jataka

546. The-Maha-Ummagga-Jataka

547. Vessantara-Jataka - Buddha returns to his father's kingdom (Kapilavastu) and in a gathering, displays a miracle of levitating in air and wins their confidence.

Common Terms found In Jataka Tales:---

Note-1 : At the end of most tales the listeners of Buddha are depicted as attaining First path, Second path , Third Path or Fourth path. These are explained here. (These are also in the Jataka no. 1)

Buddhist Eightfold Path of practicing Meditation (with righteous living) results in four stages of achievements also called as Chattaro Magga (Four paths) :

First Path(First magga)--Called Sotapanna,stream winner, with removal of many sins/karma in meditation,first time one experiences the nirvana state in trance, will be reborn 7 times only as human/angel to remove imperfections with meditation & then surely gets Nirvana.

Second Path(Second magga)--Called Sakdagami, has little sin/karma left,with meditation one experiences the nirvana state few times in trance, will be reborn one time only as human to remove imperfections with meditation & then surely gets Nirvana.

Third Path(Third magga)--Called Anagami, has very minute sin/karma left, with meditation one experiences the nirvana state many times in trance, will not be reborn ever as human rather be reborn in Brahma(ArcAngel) realm to remove imperfections with meditation there & then surely gets Nirvana.

Fourth Path(Fourth magga)--Final achievement called Arhatship(Enlightenment equal to Buddha), one has removed all sin/karma completely with meditation in trance, then experiences 3 Pre-Nirvana states (a)Recollection of numerous past lives (b)Learns from these the cause-&-effect cycle of rebirths due to attachments in material realm (c)Attachments & sins now broken ; then experiences 9 Trance states to Nirvana 1.Illuminated blissful state of consciousness within.. 5. Expansion of consciousness out of physical body in all directions becoming infinite space/omnipresence in the material universe..7. Experiences becoming Void i.e. non-experience of material universe.. 9. Finally transforming to the transcendental omnipresent state like a sea of timeless, eternal, unchanging, unseen light - the final enlightenment/salvation/Nirvana ). See Ariyapariyesana Sutta (Majjhima Nikaya 26)in Tipitaka.

(As the Ariyapariyesana Sutta tells , an enlightened one becomes one with infinity , thus has infinite cababilities. Please note that the word maggic can be construed as 'follower' or 'attainer' of the above maggas. But it is not Magic though those who attain , can get endowed with supernatural powers which are mentioned in the Sammannaphala & other Suttas , but attainment of these powers is not the purpose at all. The purpose of Buddha's path is Enlightenment i.e. to be free from that which binds us into the material world and become alive forever in eternity i.e. Salvation/Nirvana. )

Note-2 : Four cardinal truths of Buddhism are :-(i) Life is suffering; (ii) cravings (of material nature) cause the continuance of a person/creature in future rebirth; (iii) with the disappearance of cravings, individual would also disappear and achieve enlightenment/salvation/eternal life ; and (iv) cravings disappear by following the meditative Noble Eightfold Path based on righteousness as taught by the Buddha.

Note-3 : Three Gems of Buddhism known as Triratna (Trinity) are : (1) Buddha - To have faith that if Buddha could achieve it then anyone can. (2) Dhamma - The Eightfold Path path shown by Buddha based on righteousness(Sheel), meditation(Samadhi) and trance experience (Pragya). (3) Sangha - The Brotherhood or Holy Order of Monks (especially the enlightened ones) he founded.

Note-4 : Rivals or 'heretics,' . The six rivals with whom Gautam(Buddha) had to compete were Purana Kashyapa, Makkhali Gosala, Ajita Kesa-kambali, Pakudha Kaccayana, Sanjaya Belatthi-putta, and Nigantha Nataputta (also known as Mahavira the guru of Jains ).

Note-5 : The translators have used the words Brother , Brotherhood & Brethren i.e Brother = Monk ; BrotherHood = Holy Order of Monks; Brethren = Monks.

Note-6 : Deva = Angel or god in heaven worlds(These are also subject to rebirths)

Note-7 : Brahma = Archangel in upper heavens(These are also subject to rebirths)

Note-8 : Tathagata = Gautam Buddha ; Tatha= Beyond , Agata= Came back; The word Tathagata means one who crossed over the death , went into the eternal , timeless, deathless Nirvana state and then came back alive to teach the path to mortals, as an experienced one who knows the path well.

Note-9 : Dasabala = Buddha ; Dasa = ten , bala=powers; Buddha is attributed to have ten supernatural powers.

Note-10 : Eightfold Path of of Righteousness leading to Enlightenment . 1. Right View 2. Right Intention 3. Right Speech 4. Right Action 5. Right Livelihood 6. Right Effort 7. Right Meditation(Sati) 8. Right Trance (Samadhi=Trance). Here the word 'Right' is meant for that which leads to Enlightenment. For detals, see Noble Eightfold Path .

Download/View English Translation[]

The following .pdf file contains all above stories, open it then save the .pdf file:

File:Jataka final.pdf

Original Pali Version[]

(From www.tipitaka.org)

The following freely available .PDF files were taken from www.tipitaka.org. These are from Vipassana Research Institute. These contain the original words in Pali language.
The translation of original Pali words can never convey exact meaning, hence these are being provided for research & comparison. The www.tipitaka.org website also contains files in many other languages.
It is also to be mentioned that in original Pali language Buddha is referred as Bhagava(God), Bhagvanta(God), Sattha/Satthu(Teacher).