Chapters in this book

1. Frontmatter i
2. Contents v
3. Preface ix
4. Introduction 1
5. Prologue 9
6. 1. KING PRABHĀSA. King Prabhāsa vows to become a Buddha 11
7. 2. JUJUBE ISLAND. As the merchant Supriya, the Bodhisattva gains the jewel that grants all wishes 19
8. 3. DHARMAKĀMA. As Dharmakāma, the Bodhisattva barters his life for a wise saying 26
9. 4. THE HARE. As a hare, the Bodhisattva offers his life to feed another 33
10. 5. KING CANDRAPRABHA. As King Candraprabha, the Bodhisattva gives his head to one who begs for it 40
11. 6. RŪPYĀVATĪ. As Rūpyāvatī, the Bodhisattva cuts off her breasts to feed a starving servant- girl 46
12. 7. THE MERCHANT’S SON. As a merchant’s son, the Bodhisattva feeds his body to animals 53
13. 8. KING PADMAKA. As King Padmaka, the Bodhisattva turns into a carp to cure his subjects of disease 60
14. 9. KING BRAHMADATTA. As King Brahmadatta, the Bodhisattva gives away his food ration in time of famine 67
15. 11. THE DEER. As a deer, the Bodhisattva offers himself to the king’s butchers in place of a pregnant doe 73
16. 12. THE PEACOCK. As a peacock, the Bodhisattva saves a queen from adultery 80
17. 14. ŚYĀMA. As Śyāma, the Bodhisattva devotes himself to his blind parents 95
18. 19. THE ELEPHANT. As an elephant, the Bodhisattva helps the hunter who is sent to kill him 104
19. 20. PRINCE CANDRA. As Prince Candra, the Bodhisattva shows forbearance to the minister who wants him killed 111
20. 22. THE ANTELOPE. As an antelope, the Bodhisattva sacrifices his life to save his herd from extinction 120
21. 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 129
22. 24. MŪLIKA. As Mūlika, a gatherer of medicinal herbs, the Bodhisattva nurses an ailing Pratyekabuddha 143
23. 25. SUDHANA AND THE FAIRY PRINCESS. As Prince Sudhana, the Bodhisattva undergoes many trials to be reunited with his fairy wife 147
24. 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 176
25. 27. KEŚAVA. As Keśava, a doctor, the Bodhisattva cures a madwoman 180
26. 29. NIRUPAMĀ. As Nirupamā, an actress, the Bodhisattva cures an actor of lust 192
27. 32. THE LION. As a lion, the Bodhisattva saves the lives of two little monkeys entrusted to him 198
28. 33. ŚAKRA. As Śakra, lord of the gods, the Bodhisattva resuscitates a dead elephant calf 210
29. 34. ŚYENAKA. As Śyenaka, a king’s minister, the Bodhisattva renounces the world and reforms the king 217
30. Notes 227
31. References 243