Viśvantara Rājakumāra Kathā

An anonymous Buddhist narrative text belonging to the Avadāna or Jātaka tradition. The extant portion recounts episodes concerning Prince Viśvantara (Vessantara), son of King Śivi, and emphasizes his extraordinary generosity through the donation of various precious objects and possessions. References to royal commands, ministers, subjects, and acts of charity indicate that the narrative centres upon the celebrated story of Prince Viśvantara, one of the most popular Bodhisattva legends illustrating the perfection of giving (dāna-pāramitā). On the basis of the contents, the work may tentatively be identified with the Viśvantarāvadāna or the Vessantara Jātaka tradition, although the absence of a colophon prevents a definite identification.