batch.motif.buddhist-jataka-birth-stories-rhys-davids-gutenberg-l12612-l12668
---
record_id: batch.motif.buddhist-jataka-birth-stories-rhys-davids-gutenberg-l12612-l12668
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/buddhist/project-gutenberg/buddhist-birth-stories-volume-1-rhys-davids.md
passage_locator:
label: END OF THE STORY OF THE THOROUGHBRED. / END OF THE STORY OF THE FORD. / END
OF THE STORY ON CONSTANCY. / END OF THE STORY OF THE BULL WHO WON THE BET.; lines
12612-12668
start: '12612'
end: '12668'
translation: Buddhist birth stories; or, Jataka tales, Volume 1
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: ''
summary: A monk tells the Teacher that unsuitable lodging prevented him from completing
meditation. The Teacher replies that even animals formerly knew what was suitable,
then tells a Jātaka in which the Bodisat is born as a wise bird living with a
flock in a lofty tree. Seeing dust and smoke caused by branches rubbing together,
the Bodisat warns the birds that fire will arise and urges them to leave. Wise
birds follow him; foolish birds mock the warning and stay. The tree catches fire,
and the remaining birds are blinded by smoke, fall into the flames, and die. The
Teacher applies the lesson to the monk, who attains Conversion, and identifies
the wise bird as himself in a former birth.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: A monk reports that lack of suitable lodging prevented him from fully completing
meditation.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: The Teacher says that formerly even animals knew what was suitable and what
was not, then tells a tale.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: In the tale, the Bodisat is born as a bird and lives near a lofty tree with
a flock of birds.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:4
text: Dust falls and smoke rises when branches of the tree rub against one another.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:5
text: The Bodisat infers that continued rubbing will produce sparks and fire that
will consume the tree.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:6
text: The Bodisat tells the flock to leave the tree and seek the skies because their
home and refuge has produced danger.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:7
text: Wise birds listen to the Bodisat and fly away with him to another place.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:8
text: Foolish birds mock the warning and remain in the tree.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:9
text: Fire arises as the Bodisat predicted; smoke and flames rise, and the remaining
birds are blinded, fall into the fire, and burn to death.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:10
text: After the discourse, the monk is established in Conversion.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: obs:11
text: The Teacher identifies the birds who listened as the followers of the Buddha
and the Wise Bird as himself.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: The Teacher
description: The Teacher welcomes the monk, questions him, tells the Jātaka, proclaims
the Truths, and identifies the former-life figures.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:10
- ev:11
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: The monk
description: A monk who did not complete meditation because he lacked suitable lodging
and is later established in Conversion.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:10
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: The Bodisat as Wise Bird
description: The Bodisat is born as a bird, recognizes danger from smoke and rubbing
branches, warns the flock, departs, and is later identified by the Teacher as
himself.
role_refs:
- role:4
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:11
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Wise birds
description: Birds in the flock who listen to the Bodisat and fly away to another
place.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:11
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Foolish birds
description: Birds in the flock who mock the Bodisat's warning, remain in the tree,
and die in the fire.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Brahma-datta
description: King reigning in Benāres during the tale's long-ago setting.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
roles:
- id: role:1
label: teacher of doctrine
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: He questions the monk, delivers the discourse, proclaims the Truths, and
connects the Jātaka to the present.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:10
- ev:11
- id: role:2
label: narrator of former-life tale
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: He responds to the monk by telling a tale about former animals knowing suitable
places.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:3
label: admonished monk
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: He reports failing to complete meditation due to unsuitable lodging, and
the Teacher questions why he did not know what was suitable.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:10
- id: role:4
label: wise warning figure
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: The Bodisat recognizes the impending fire and warns the flock to leave.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: role:5
label: former birth of the Buddha
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: The Teacher identifies the Wise Bird as himself.
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: role:6
label: obedient survivors
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: They heed the Bodisat's voice and fly away with him.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: role:7
label: foolish nonlisteners
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: They dismiss the warning, remain in place, and die when the fire comes.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
- id: role:8
label: setting king
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: He is named as reigning in Benāres at the time of the tale.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: lofty tree as home and refuge
literal_form: Lofty tree with branches forking out on every side, inhabited by the
bird flock.
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs:
- tree
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:6
- id: sym:2
label: fire arising from the home
literal_form: Dust, smoke, sparks, flames, and fire produced by rubbing tree branches.
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:9
- id: sym:3
label: smoke blinding birds
literal_form: Smoke and flames rise, blinding birds who stayed in the tree.
associated_figures:
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: sym:4
label: flight into the air
literal_form: The wise birds fly up into the air and go elsewhere.
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Monk reports failed meditation
summary: The Teacher welcomes a monk and asks about Lent and meditation; the monk
says unsuitable lodging kept him from completing meditation.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Teacher introduces former-life example
summary: The Teacher says that even animals formerly knew what was suitable and
tells a tale.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: scene:3
label: Bodisat bird perceives danger in the tree
summary: In a forest near Benāres, the Bodisat as a bird lives with a flock in a
lofty tree; he sees dust and smoke from rubbing branches and predicts fire.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: scene:4
label: Warning and divided response
summary: The Bodisat warns the flock to leave because their home has become dangerous;
wise birds follow him, while foolish birds mock the warning and stay.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: scene:5
label: Fire destroys those who remain
summary: The tree catches fire, smoke blinds the birds that stayed, and they fall
into the flames and die.
figure_refs:
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: scene:6
label: Application and identification
summary: The Teacher applies the tale to the monk, proclaims the Truths, the monk
attains Conversion, and the Teacher identifies the wise birds with Buddha's followers
and the Wise Bird with himself.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- ev:11
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: wise animal warns community of impending danger
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
basis: The Bodisat as a bird detects the signs of fire and tells the flock to leave
before the danger arrives.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
confidence: high
cautions: The taxonomy reference is broad; no narrower supplied taxonomy ID is available
for animal fable warning motifs.
- id: motif:2
label: obedience to wise warning brings survival while mockery brings death
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
basis: Birds who listen fly away safely, while those who mock the warning remain
and are burned.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:9
confidence: high
cautions: This is a passage-level moral pattern rather than a named taxonomy motif
in the supplied list.
- id: motif:3
label: refuge becomes source of danger
taxonomy_refs:
- tree
- fire
basis: The birds' tree, described in the Bodisat's verse as their home and refuge,
produces smoke and fire that destroy the birds who remain.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:9
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage presents the tree and fire literally; symbolic reading should
be reviewed.
- id: motif:4
label: former birth reveals present teacher's wisdom
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
basis: The Teacher identifies the Wise Bird of the former tale as himself and uses
the story to instruct the monk.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- ev:11
confidence: high
cautions: This reflects the Jātaka frame in this passage; broader genre claims are
not made beyond the provided text.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: 12612-12617
quote_or_summary: The Teacher asks the monk about Lent and meditation; the monk
says unsuitable lodging prevented him from fully completing meditation.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/buddhist/project-gutenberg/buddhist-birth-stories-volume-1-rhys-davids.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: 12618-12623
quote_or_summary: The Teacher says that formerly even animals knew what was suitable
and what was not, and he begins a tale.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/buddhist/project-gutenberg/buddhist-birth-stories-volume-1-rhys-davids.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: 12627-12630
quote_or_summary: Long ago under Brahma-datta in Benāres, the Bodisat is born as
a bird and lives in the forest with a flock near a lofty tree with many forking
branches.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/buddhist/project-gutenberg/buddhist-birth-stories-volume-1-rhys-davids.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: 12631-12633
quote_or_summary: Dust begins to fall and smoke rises as the tree branches rub against
one another.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/buddhist/project-gutenberg/buddhist-birth-stories-volume-1-rhys-davids.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: 12633-12638
quote_or_summary: The Bodisat reasons that the rubbing branches will send out sparks,
the fire will reach withered leaves, and the tree will be consumed, so they should
leave.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/buddhist/project-gutenberg/buddhist-birth-stories-volume-1-rhys-davids.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:6
type: quote
locator: 12639-12645
quote_or_summary: "“Seek then the skies, ye birds! ... our very home and refuge
/ Itself has brought forth danger!”"
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/buddhist/project-gutenberg/buddhist-birth-stories-volume-1-rhys-davids.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short excerpt quoted.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: 12647-12649
quote_or_summary: Wise birds listen to the Bodisat, fly up with him, and go elsewhere.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/buddhist/project-gutenberg/buddhist-birth-stories-volume-1-rhys-davids.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: 12649-12652
quote_or_summary: Foolish birds say he is always seeing crocodiles in a drop of
water, ignore him, and remain there.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/buddhist/project-gutenberg/buddhist-birth-stories-volume-1-rhys-davids.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: 12654-12658
quote_or_summary: Fire is produced as predicted, the tree catches fire, smoke and
flames rise, the birds are blinded, cannot escape, fall into the fire, and burn
to death.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/buddhist/project-gutenberg/buddhist-birth-stories-volume-1-rhys-davids.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:10
type: summary
locator: 12662-12665
quote_or_summary: The Teacher states that former birds knew suitable places, asks
why the monk did not, proclaims the Truths, and the monk is established in Conversion.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/buddhist/project-gutenberg/buddhist-birth-stories-volume-1-rhys-davids.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:11
type: summary
locator: 12665-12668
quote_or_summary: 'The Teacher sums up the Jātaka: the birds who listened were the
Buddha''s followers, and the Wise Bird was the Teacher himself.'
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/buddhist/project-gutenberg/buddhist-birth-stories-volume-1-rhys-davids.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: uncertain
notes: The passage is clear for literal extraction and internal motif candidates.
No comparison claims are made because the passage itself does not support comparison
beyond its own Jātaka framing.
reviewer_status:
status: needs_review
reviewer: ''
reviewed_at: ''
notes: Machine-generated draft from OpenAI Batch; not human-reviewed.
extracted_by: openai_batch:gpt-5.5
extracted_at: '2026-04-28'
notes: |-
Used only supplied passage and metadata. Taxonomy refs limited to available refs; symbols 'tree' and 'fire' applied where literal forms are present.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:buddhist-jataka-birth-stories-rhys-davids-gutenberg__l12612-l12668
passage_sha256=6357697d82b9c7615149bc526ea937095590dd08ef8b0412d5654a65854da7a4