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Frontmatter -- Contents -- Preface -- Introduction -- Prologue -- 1. KING PRABHĀSA. King Prabhāsa vows to become a Buddha -- 2. JUJUBE ISLAND. As the merchant Supriya, the Bodhisattva gains the jewel that grants all wishes -- 3. DHARMAKĀMA. As Dharmakāma, the Bodhisattva barters his life for a wise saying -- 4. THE HARE. As a hare, the Bodhisattva offers his life to feed another -- 5. KING CANDRAPRABHA. As King Candraprabha, the Bodhisattva gives his head to one who begs for it -- 6. RŪPYĀVATĪ. As Rūpyāvatī, the Bodhisattva cuts off her breasts to feed a starving servant- girl -- 7. THE MERCHANT'S SON. As a merchant's son, the Bodhisattva feeds his body to animals -- 8. KING PADMAKA. As King Padmaka, the Bodhisattva turns into a carp to cure his subjects of disease -- 9. KING BRAHMADATTA. As King Brahmadatta, the Bodhisattva gives away his food ration in time of famine -- 11. THE DEER. As a deer, the Bodhisattva offers himself to the king's butchers in place of a pregnant doe -- 12. THE PEACOCK. As a peacock, the Bodhisattva saves a queen from adultery -- 14. ŚYĀMA. As Śyāma, the Bodhisattva devotes himself to his blind parents -- 19. THE ELEPHANT. As an elephant, the Bodhisattva helps the hunter who is sent to kill him -- 20. PRINCE CANDRA. As Prince Candra, the Bodhisattva shows forbearance to the minister who wants him killed -- 22. THE ANTELOPE. As an antelope, the Bodhisattva sacrifices his life to save his herd from extinction -- 23. PRINCE KANAKAVARMAN. As Prince Kanakavarman, the Bodhisattva rescues his sister and her lover from the king's wrath and conquers the goblins who have laid waste a foreign land -- 24. MŪLIKA. As Mūlika, a gatherer of medicinal herbs, the Bodhisattva nurses an ailing Pratyekabuddha -- 25. SUDHANA AND THE FAIRY PRINCESS. As Prince Sudhana, the Bodhisattva undergoes many trials to be reunited with his fairy wife -- 26. JĀJVALIN. As the ascetic Jājvalin, the Bodhisattva finds that a dove has nested on his head while he has been meditating. He waits until her chicks are fully fledged before moving -- 27. KEŚAVA. As Keśava, a doctor, the Bodhisattva cures a madwoman -- 29. NIRUPAMĀ. As Nirupamā, an actress, the Bodhisattva cures an actor of lust -- 32. THE LION. As a lion, the Bodhisattva saves the lives of two little monkeys entrusted to him -- 33. ŚAKRA. As Śakra, lord of the gods, the Bodhisattva resuscitates a dead elephant calf -- 34. ŚYENAKA. As Śyenaka, a king's minister, the Bodhisattva renounces the world and reforms the king -- Notes -- References Written in Kashmir around 400 CE, Haribhatta's Jåtakamåla is a remarkable example of classical Sanskrit literature in a mixture of prose and verse that for centuries was known only in its Tibetan translation. But between 1973 and 2004 a large portion of the Sanskrit original was rediscovered in a number of anonymous manuscripts. With this volume Peter Khoroche offers the most complete translation to date, making almost 80 percent of the work available in English. Haribhatta's Jåtakamålå is a sophisticated and personal adaptation of popular stories, mostly non-Buddhist in origin, all illustrating the future Buddha's single-minded devotion to the good of all creatures, and his desire, no matter what his incarnation-man, woman, peacock, elephant, merchant, or king-to assist others on the path to nirvana. Haribhatta's insight into human and animal behavior, his astonishing eye for the details of landscape, and his fine descriptive powers together make this a unique record of everyday life in ancient India as well as a powerful statement of Buddhist ethics. This translation will be a landmark in the study of Buddhism and of the culture of ancient India
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