The Jataka, Volume I

The Jataka, Volume I is a book by Robert Chalmers, first published in 1895. This volume introduces the beginning of the Jataka tales—stories of the previous lives of the Buddha in both human and animal form.

Rooted in ancient Indian tradition, these moral narratives reflect the ethical and spiritual values that shaped early Buddhist thought. The collection captures timeless lessons in compassion, wisdom, self-sacrifice, and the consequences of actions, framed within folktale-style storytelling that has resonated throughout centuries.

Chalmers' contribution, as part of the broader Sacred Books of the East series, played a vital role in making these profound texts accessible to English-speaking audiences, and his scholarly approach helped establish the Jataka tales as essential reading in the study of Buddhism, folklore, and comparative religion.