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