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Tipitaka >> Sutta Pitaka >> Khuddaka Nikaya >> Jataka

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).

Pali-English Version[]


Mula(Short Jataka) Version:

File:Jatakapali 1 mula.pdf

File:Jatakapali 2 mula.pdf

Atthakatha (Detailed Jatka; Note:Jataka stories start from page 58):

File:Jataka-atthakatha 1.pdf

File:Jataka-atthakatha 2.pdf

File:Jataka-atthakatha 3.pdf

File:Jataka-atthakatha 4.pdf

File:Jataka-atthakatha 6.pdf

File:Jataka-atthakatha 7.pdf

Pali-Devnagri Version(Sanskrit/Hindi Script)[]


Mula(Short Jataka) Version:

File:10.Jatakapali 1-dev.pdf

File:10.Jatakapali 2-dev.pdf

Atthakatha (Detailed Jataka; Note:Jataka stories start from page 69):

File:Jataka-atthakatha 1-dev.pdf

File:Jataka-atthakatha 2-dev.pdf

File:Jataka-atthakatha 3-dev.pdf

File:Jataka-atthakatha 4-dev.pdf

File:Jataka-atthakatha 5-dev.pdf

File:Jataka-atthakatha 6-dev.pdf

File:Jataka-atthakatha 7-dev.pdf

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