The Queen's Necklace

The next time you feel inclined to bend the rules of good behaviour, think of the characters that people these jolly Jataka tales. Light-hearted lessons in morality, these tales keep us chuckling as lies, greed and hypocrisy take a severe beating. The very common, very human lust for a gleaming necklace, or a tasty meal, or ever more riches has never seemed quite so foolish.