Jataka is the state of survival and the name of one of the sacred books of the Buddhists. Jataka contains an account of Gautama Buddha in about five hundred and fifty different births.

The Jataka Tales contains various mythical tales on the previous birth of Gautama Buddha. The word Jataka is most specifically refers to a text division of the Pali Canon of Theravada Buddhism which is included in the Khuddaka Nikaya of the Sutta Pitaka. Jataka also means the traditional explanation on this book.

The books Jataka consists of more than five hundred poems, arranged roughly by increasing number of verses. It is said that the last fifty of the Jataka tales were intended to be clear by themselves, without commentary. The interpretations of the stories in prose are that these stories are of interest to folklorists.

Many of the Jataka stories are translated in several other languages from the Pali. Jataka stories tend to maintain the Buddhist morality of their Pali equivalents, but re-telling of the stories in Persian and other languages sometimes contain significant amendments to suit their respective cultures.

Jataka Tales reflects the Buddhist morals, ethics and principles.

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