The Vessantara Jataka (Burmese: ဝေဿန္တရာ ဇာတ်တော်, Wethandaya Zatdaw; Thai: มหาเวสสันดรชาดก, Maha Wetsandon Chadok) is one of the most popular apadānas of Theravada Buddhism. The Vessantara Jataka tells the story of one of Gautama Buddha's past lives, about a compassionate prince, Vessantara, who gives away everything he owns, including his children, thereby displaying the virtue of perfect charity. It is also known as the Great Birth Sermon.