I THE MONKEY AND THE CROCODILE
    PART I
    PART II
II HOW THE TURTLE SAVED HIS OWN LIFE
III THE MERCHANT OF SERI
IV THE TURTLE WHO COULDN'T STOP TALKING
V THE OX WHO WON THE FORFEIT
VI THE SANDY ROAD
VII THE QUARREL OF THE QUAILS
VIII THE MEASURE OF RICE
IX THE FOOLISH, TIMID RABBIT

X THE WISE AND THE FOOLISH MERCHANT

XI THE ELEPHANT GIRLY-FACE
XII THE BANYAN DEER
XIII THE PRINCES AND THE WATER-SPRITE
XIV THE KING'S WHITE ELEPHANT
XV THE OX WHO ENVIED THE PIG
XVI GRANNY'S BLACKIE
XVII THE CRAB AND THE CRANE
XVIII WHY THE OWL IS NOT KING OF THE BIRDS

The Jatakas, or birth-stories, form one of Buddhism's sacred books.
They relate the adventures of the Buddha in his former existences.
Carved railings around the relic shrines of Sanchi in Madhya Pradesh
and Amaravati in Andhra Pradesh indicate that the birth-stories
were widely known in the third century B.C.

The Jataka Tales contain deep truths, and are calculated to impress
lessons of great moral beauty. The tale of the Merchant of Seri, who
gave up all that he had in exchange for a golden dish, embodies
much the same idea as the New Testament's parable of the
priceless pearl. The tale of the Measures of Rice illustrates the
importance of a true estimate of values. The tale of the Banyan
Deer, which offered its life to save a roe and her young, illustrates
self-sacrifice of the noblest sort. The tale of the Sandy Road is one
of the finest in the collection.

While some of the stories are based in Buddhist ideology, many are
age-old fables, the flotsam and jetsam of folk-lore that have
appeared under various guises throughout the centuries. At times
they have been used merely as merry tales, and at other times
they're used as literature, as by Chaucer, who unwittingly puts a
Jataka story into the mouth of his Pardoner when he tells the tale
of "the Ryotoures three."

Captivate yourself with the charm of these 18 Jataka Tales.
Let their quaint humour and gentle earnestness teach you the
wholesome lessons of the Buddhist ideology, among them the
duty of kindness to animals.

Part of a Social Enterprise Project, 33% of the profit from the
sale of this book will be donated to organisations that
specialise in educational scholarships.

Books in this Series