Jātaka

Jātaka (literally, 'relating to birth'), the name of a collection of legends, containing an account of the 550 previous births of Sākya Muni, or the Buddha. It forms a part of the Suttapitaka, or 'baskets of discourses,' of Pāli literature, and an edition of the text, with commentary, was issued by Fausböll in 6 vols. (Lond. 1877-96). These are of great importance as the earliest collection of popular stories, many of which at an early date found their way by one channel or other to the West, and are still current as fables of Æsop or as traditional and apparently indigenous folk-tales. The best English translation is that undertaken in 1895 by Professor Cowell.