batch.motif.buddhist-jataka-birth-stories-rhys-davids-gutenberg-l12809-l12956
---
record_id: batch.motif.buddhist-jataka-birth-stories-rhys-davids-gutenberg-l12809-l12956
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 FORD. / END OF THE STORY ON CONSTANCY. / END OF THE
STORY OF THE BULL WHO WON THE BET. / END OF THE STORY OF THE WISE BIRD AND THE
FOOLS.; lines 12809-12956
start: '12809'
end: '12956'
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: 'The passage concludes the story of the partridge, monkey, and elephant
by presenting seniority, courtesy, and reverence as virtues, then identifies the
animals with Moggallāna, Sāriputta, and the Buddha. It then begins the Baka Jātaka:
a Jetavana tailor-monk deceives other monks by trading attractive robes made from
old rags for new cloth, but is himself outwitted by a village robe-maker using
the same tactic. The Teacher says this pattern also occurred in a former birth,
where the Bodisat was a tree genius near a lotus pond and a crane began planning
how to deceive fish in a drying pond.'
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: The partridge is treated as the oldest of the three animals and is asked to
give counsel and instruction.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: The partridge gives counsel, maintains the others in their duty, and observes
his own duty.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: The three animals keep the Five Commandments, live respectfully with one another,
and are said to be destined for heaven after death.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:4
text: The Teacher uses the animal story to instruct monks to show reverence, service,
and respect according to age.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:5
text: The Teacher states a rule that seniors should receive the best seats, water,
food, and lodging priority over juniors.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:6
text: The Teacher identifies the elephant as Moggallāna, the monkey as Sāriputta,
and the partridge as himself.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:7
text: A Jetavana monk is skilled at robe-making and becomes known as a robe-maker.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:8
text: The Jetavana robe-maker makes attractive robes from old cloth and exchanges
them for new cloth from monks who do not understand robe work.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:9
text: When the exchanged robe is washed in warm water, its worn-out places become
visible.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:10
text: A village robe-maker who also cheats others decides to outwit the Jetavana
robe-maker.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:11
text: The village robe-maker gives the Jetavana robe-maker a robe made from old
rags and takes away new cloths.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:12
text: The Jetavana robe-maker discovers after washing the robe that it is made of
rags and becomes publicly known as having been outwitted.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:13
text: The Teacher says the Jetavana robe-maker behaved similarly in a former birth
and was also outwitted then.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:14
text: In the former-birth tale, the Bodisat is born as the genius of a tree near
a lotus pond.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:15
text: During the dry season, water runs short in a pond containing many fish.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:16
text: A crane sees the fish and thinks that he must outwit them and make prey of
them.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:17
text: The fish ask the crane why he is sitting lost in thought, and the crane answers
that he is thinking about them.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Partridge
description: The oldest of the three animals, giver of counsel, later identified
by the Teacher as himself.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Elephant
description: One of the three animals who reveres the oldest and is later identified
as Moggallāna.
role_refs:
- role:2
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Monkey
description: One of the three animals who reveres the oldest and is later identified
as Sāriputta.
role_refs:
- role:2
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Teacher / Buddha
description: The speaker who draws a monastic lesson from the animal story, utters
a verse, identifies past figures, and begins the Baka Jātaka.
role_refs:
- role:3
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:8
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Monks
description: Monastic audience addressed by the Teacher and later the group discussing
the Jetavana robe-maker in the Lecture Hall.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:8
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Jetavana tailor-monk / robe-maker
description: A monk skilled at robe-making who passes off old rags as robes and
is later outwitted by a country robe-maker.
role_refs:
- role:5
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Village robe-maker / country monk
description: A robe-maker from a country village who cheats others similarly and
outwits the Jetavana robe-maker.
role_refs:
- role:5
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Bodisat as tree genius
description: The Bodisat born to forest life as the genius of a tree near a lotus
pond.
role_refs:
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: Crane
description: A crane at the edge of the pond who plans to outwit the fish and make
prey of them.
role_refs:
- role:11
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
- id: fig:10
name_or_label: Fish
description: Fish living in a pond where water runs short; they question the crane
about his thoughts.
role_refs:
- role:12
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
roles:
- id: role:1
label: senior counsellor
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The partridge is called the oldest and is asked to give counsel and instruction.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:2
label: respectful companions
assigned_to:
- fig:2
- fig:3
basis: The animals agree to serve and revere the oldest and live courteously together.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:3
label: monastic teacher and rule-giver
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: The Teacher enjoins reverence, service, respect, and rules concerning seniority.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:4
label: monastic audience
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: The monks are addressed by the Teacher and later tell him what they were
discussing.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:8
- id: role:5
label: deceptive robe-maker
assigned_to:
- fig:6
- fig:7
basis: Both robe-makers are described as cheating others with robes made from old
cloth or rags.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: role:6
label: past-life identity in Jātaka summation
assigned_to:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
basis: The Teacher identifies the animals with himself and two named disciples.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:7
label: former-birth narrator
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: The Teacher says the same pattern happened in a former birth and tells a
tale.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: role:8
label: deceiver who is deceived
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: The Jetavana robe-maker cheats others but is himself outwitted by the country
robe-maker.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:7
- id: role:9
label: counter-deceiver
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: The village robe-maker intentionally outwits the Jetavana robe-maker by giving
him a rag robe.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: role:10
label: tree genius
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: The Bodisat is said to be born as the genius of a tree near a lotus pond.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: role:11
label: predatory deceiver
assigned_to:
- fig:9
basis: The crane thinks he must outwit the fish and make prey of them.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: role:12
label: intended prey
assigned_to:
- fig:10
basis: The fish are the beings whom the crane plans to outwit and prey upon.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: Five Commandments
literal_form: ethical commandments kept by the three animals
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:2
label: seniority by age
literal_form: age-based order of reverence, seats, water, food, and lodging
associated_figures:
- fig:4
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: sym:3
label: robe made from old rags
literal_form: robe fabricated from old cloth or rags but made attractive by dyeing
and rubbing
associated_figures:
- fig:6
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:7
- id: sym:4
label: washing water revealing the robe
literal_form: warm water used to wash the robe, exposing worn-out places or rags
associated_figures:
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:7
- id: sym:5
label: tree near the lotus pond
literal_form: tree inhabited by the Bodisat as its genius
associated_figures:
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs:
- tree
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: sym:6
label: dry-season pond
literal_form: pond with water running short in the dry season
associated_figures:
- fig:9
- fig:10
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: sym:7
label: crane at the water’s edge
literal_form: crane sitting at the edge of the pond while planning to deceive the
fish
associated_figures:
- fig:9
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: The partridge becomes counsellor to the older-respecting animals
summary: The partridge is recognized as the oldest, gives counsel, and the three
animals keep commandments and live respectfully.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: The Teacher establishes seniority rules for monks
summary: The Teacher draws a lesson from the animal story and enjoins reverence
and material priority according to age.
figure_refs:
- fig:4
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: scene:3
label: Jātaka identities are assigned
summary: The Teacher identifies the elephant, monkey, and partridge with Moggallāna,
Sāriputta, and himself.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: scene:4
label: Jetavana robe-maker deceives monks
summary: The Jetavana robe-maker uses old cloth to make attractive robes and trades
them for new cloth, with the deception revealed after washing.
figure_refs:
- fig:5
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: scene:5
label: Village robe-maker outwits the Jetavana robe-maker
summary: A village robe-maker uses a similar rag-robe tactic against the Jetavana
robe-maker and takes new cloths from him.
figure_refs:
- fig:6
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: scene:6
label: Teacher frames a former-birth repetition
summary: After monks discuss the incident, the Teacher says the same pattern of
deception and being outwitted occurred in a former birth.
figure_refs:
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:7
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: scene:7
label: Crane plans to deceive fish in a drying pond
summary: In the former-birth tale, the Bodisat is a tree genius near a lotus pond;
in a dry-season pond the crane plans to deceive fish and begins speaking with
them.
figure_refs:
- fig:8
- fig:9
- fig:10
symbol_refs:
- sym:5
- sym:6
- sym:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: reverence for elders as moral order
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
basis: The oldest animal is asked to provide counsel, and the Teacher enjoins reverence
and privileges according to age.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
confidence: medium
cautions: The taxonomy reference to wisdom is broad; the passage’s explicit focus
is seniority, courtesy, and monastic discipline.
- id: motif:2
label: deceiver deceived by the same kind of trick
taxonomy_refs:
- trickster_boundary
basis: The Jetavana robe-maker deceives others with old-rag robes and is then outwitted
by a village robe-maker using an old-rag robe.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
confidence: high
cautions: The available taxonomy term is general; the passage itself uses language
of cheating and outwitting rather than a named trickster category.
- id: motif:3
label: former-birth repetition of present behavior
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The Teacher says the Jetavana robe-maker took others in and was outwitted
in a former birth as well as in the present.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
confidence: high
cautions: The excerpt begins but does not complete the former-birth narrative outcome.
- id: motif:4
label: predator plans deception of vulnerable animals at a shrinking water source
taxonomy_refs:
- trickster_boundary
basis: A crane at a pond with diminishing water thinks of outwitting the fish and
making prey of them.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
confidence: medium
cautions: Only the setup of the deception appears in this passage; the full trick
and resolution are outside the supplied excerpt.
comparison_claims:
- id: claim:1
claim: The Teacher explicitly compares the Jetavana robe-maker’s present-life cheating
and being outwitted with the same pattern in a former birth.
claim_level: same_function
target: present robe-maker episode and former-birth Baka Jātaka pattern
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: high
limitations: The former-birth tale is only partly included in the supplied passage,
so the specific earlier outwitting episode is not yet shown here.
- id: claim:2
claim: The animal story’s respectful hierarchy is applied to monastic seniority
rules, making the animal conduct function as a model for monks.
claim_level: same_function
target: animal courtesy pattern and monastic seniority practice
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: high
limitations: This is an internal didactic comparison made by the Teacher, not an
external cross-cultural comparison.
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 12809-12816
quote_or_summary: The animals recognize the partridge as oldest, promise service
and reverence, receive his counsel, keep the Five Commandments, and are destined
for heaven.
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: lines 12818-12838
quote_or_summary: The Teacher says the three lived in courtesy and respect, enjoins
monks to show reverence according to age, and assigns best seats, water, food,
and lodging priority to seniors.
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: quote
locator: lines 12840-12844
quote_or_summary: "“The elephant of that time was Moggallāna, the monkey Sāriputta,
but the partridge was I myself.”"
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/buddhist/project-gutenberg/buddhist-birth-stories-volume-1-rhys-davids.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short quotation.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 12852-12862
quote_or_summary: A monk at Jetavana is very skilled at making robes and becomes
known as the robe-maker.
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: lines 12864-12891
quote_or_summary: The Jetavana robe-maker prepares attractive robes from old cloth,
trades them for new cloth, and the worn places are revealed when the robes are
washed in warm water.
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: summary
locator: lines 12893-12905
quote_or_summary: A country-village robe-maker who also cheats people hears of the
Jetavana robe-maker and thinks it would be good to outwit him.
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:7
type: summary
locator: lines 12907-12927
quote_or_summary: The village robe-maker makes a fine robe from old clothes, exchanges
it for new cloths, and the Jetavana robe-maker later discovers it is made of rags.
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: lines 12929-12938
quote_or_summary: The monks discuss the incident; the Teacher says the Jetavana
robe-maker took others in and was outwitted in a former birth also, then 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:9
type: summary
locator: lines 12942-12951
quote_or_summary: Long ago the Bodisat is born as a tree genius near a lotus pond;
during the dry season a crane sees many fish in a pond with little water and plans
to outwit and prey on them.
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: lines 12953-12956
quote_or_summary: The fish ask the crane why he sits lost in thought; the crane
replies that he is thinking about them.
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: medium
notes: Literal extraction is strong for the supplied excerpt. Motif labels are more
tentative where broad taxonomy terms such as wisdom and trickster_boundary are
applied to specific didactic and deception episodes.
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: |-
Only the supplied passage and metadata were used. The Baka Jātaka former-birth story is incomplete within this excerpt, so motifs depending on its outcome are marked with caution.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:buddhist-jataka-birth-stories-rhys-davids-gutenberg__l12809-l12956
passage_sha256=8d1f89ead948773cc7655e8a605bfb951564be7c102ab49acc787bfc8619a06f