batch.motif.buddhist-jataka-birth-stories-rhys-davids-gutenberg-l13359-l13469
---
record_id: batch.motif.buddhist-jataka-birth-stories-rhys-davids-gutenberg-l13359-l13469
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 13359-13469
start: '13359'
end: '13469'
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 fairy who had urged Anātha Piṇḍika to stop supporting the Buddha and
the Order loses her dwelling and seeks help. After refusals, Sakka instructs her
to regain the Merchant’s lost and owed wealth as punishment. She restores the
treasury, confesses, is brought before the Buddha, hears a teaching on the ripening
of sin and goodness, attains the Fruit of Conversion, and receives pardon from
both the Buddha and the Merchant.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: The Fairy says she spoke thoughtlessly to Anātha Piṇḍika and was driven from
her dwelling-place.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: The Fairy says her earlier speech told Anātha Piṇḍika to give no support to
the Buddha or the Order of Mendicants and to forbid Gotama entry into his house.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: A prior helper, the four Archangels, and Sakka all refuse to intercede directly
for the Fairy, saying she had done wrong against the religion of the Conqueror.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: 'Sakka gives the Fairy a specific means of seeking pardon: recover debts,
retrieve wealth lost to the sea, gather ownerless treasure, and refill Anātha
Piṇḍika’s empty treasury.'
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:5
text: Sakka instructs the Fairy to take the form of the Merchant’s manager and use
young ogres and demon power to frighten debtors into repayment.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:6
text: The Fairy follows Sakka’s instructions and at midnight appears visibly in
the Merchant’s bed-chamber.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:7
text: The Fairy confesses ignorance and asks Anātha Piṇḍika for pardon after restoring
fifty-four thousands of thousands to his treasury.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:8
text: Anātha Piṇḍika decides to bring the Fairy before the Buddha, saying she should
ask pardon in the Buddha’s presence.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:9
text: The Buddha teaches that sin and goodness may be misunderstood before their
fruits ripen, but are recognized when their fruits ripen.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:10
text: After the verses, the Fairy is established in the Fruit of Conversion, falls
at the Teacher’s wheel-marked feet, and asks pardon.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:11
text: The Fairy obtains pardon from both the Teacher and the Merchant.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:12
text: Anātha Piṇḍika says that although the Fairy forbade him to support the Buddha
and give gifts, she could not stop him.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: the Fairy
description: A supernatural female being formerly dwelling in the turret over Anātha
Piṇḍika’s fourth gate; she is called blind, foolish, lustful, infidel, and ignorant
by her own confession, and later attains the Fruit of Conversion.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
- ev:7
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Anātha Piṇḍika / the Merchant
description: The Merchant who had driven the Fairy out, whose treasury is refilled,
and who brings her before the Buddha.
role_refs:
- role:2
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:8
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Sakka, King of the Gods
description: A divine figure who refuses to intercede directly but gives the Fairy
instructions for making restitution.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: the four Archangels, guardians of the world
description: Four guardian figures whom the Fairy approaches and who refuse her
in the same manner as the earlier helper.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: the Buddha / the Master / the Teacher
description: The religious teacher before whom the Fairy is brought; he gives verses
on the ripening of sin and goodness and grants pardon.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: the Fairy’s children
description: Children whom the Fairy says she leads by the hand while wandering
without shelter.
role_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: young ogres
description: Supernatural attendants whom Sakka tells the Fairy to surround herself
with while recovering debts.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: debtors of the Merchant
description: People who had received money from the Merchant and given writings
as records of debt.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
roles:
- id: role:1
label: offender seeking pardon
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The Fairy admits her wrongful words, performs restitution, and asks pardon.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
- ev:7
- id: role:2
label: wronged patron and creditor
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: The Fairy’s speech was directed against his support for the Buddha, and Sakka’s
remedy restores debts and lost wealth to his treasury.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: role:3
label: divine adviser imposing restitution
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Sakka states that direct intercession is impossible but prescribes the recovery
of wealth as punishment before pardon may be requested.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: role:4
label: refusing world guardians
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: The four Archangels refuse the Fairy after she is refused elsewhere.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:5
label: religious judge and teacher
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: The Buddha hears the case, speaks verses on moral ripening, and grants pardon.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: role:6
label: convert
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The Fairy is established in the Fruit of Conversion after the Buddha’s verses.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: role:7
label: constant donor
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Anātha Piṇḍika says the Fairy could not stop him from supporting the Buddha
and giving gifts.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: role:8
label: supernatural enforcers
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: Sakka tells the Fairy to surround herself with young ogres while frightening
debtors into repayment.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:9
label: compelled debtors
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: Sakka directs the Fairy to confront debtors with debt records and receipts
and demand repayment.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: lost dwelling-place
literal_form: dwelling-place or shelter
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: sym:2
label: empty treasury refilled
literal_form: Anātha Piṇḍika’s treasury filled with restored wealth
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: sym:3
label: debt writings and receipt
literal_form: writings recording debt and receipts held in the Fairy’s hands
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:4
label: river and sea-lost wealth
literal_form: wealth buried in the bank of the river Aciravatī and washed to the
sea
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:5
label: wheel-marked feet
literal_form: the wheel-marked feet of the Teacher
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: sym:6
label: ripened fruit of deeds
literal_form: sin and goodness described as bearing or ripening fruit
associated_figures:
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Fairy seeks aid after expulsion
summary: The Fairy explains her wrongful speech against supporting the Buddha and
asks for help regaining her dwelling; successive divine or guardian figures refuse
to intercede.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: scene:2
label: Sakka prescribes restitution
summary: Sakka tells the Fairy to recover debts, lost river and sea wealth, and
ownerless treasure so that the Merchant’s treasury is refilled before she asks
pardon.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:7
- fig:8
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
- sym:3
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: scene:3
label: Midnight confession to the Merchant
summary: After restoring the wealth, the Fairy appears in visible form in Anātha
Piṇḍika’s chamber, confesses her ignorance, reports the completed restitution,
and asks pardon.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: scene:4
label: Merchant brings Fairy before the Buddha
summary: Anātha Piṇḍika decides that the Buddha should consider the matter and takes
the Fairy to the Master early in the morning.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:5
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: scene:5
label: Teaching, conversion, and pardon
summary: The Buddha recites verses on the ripening of sin and goodness; the Fairy
attains the Fruit of Conversion, bows at the Teacher’s wheel-marked feet, asks
pardon, and receives it from the Teacher and the Merchant.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:5
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: scene:6
label: Anātha Piṇḍika claims merit for constancy
summary: Anātha Piṇḍika says the Fairy could not prevent him from supporting the
Buddha or giving gifts, and asks whether this counts as merit.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:5
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: Wrongdoing repaired through restitution before pardon
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_exchange
basis: The Fairy is told to refill the Merchant’s treasury as punishment before
asking pardon, and she reports completing this restitution before receiving forgiveness.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:7
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage frames the act as punishment and restitution rather than a
formal exchange ritual; the taxonomy link is approximate.
- id: motif:2
label: Ripening of moral deeds
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
basis: The Buddha’s verses explicitly compare sin and goodness to fruit that is
recognized only when it ripens.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
confidence: high
cautions: This is a didactic moral pattern within the passage, not a narrative action
by itself.
- id: motif:3
label: Supernatural opponent converted by the Buddha’s teaching
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
basis: A supernatural Fairy who had opposed support for the Buddha is brought before
him, hears the teaching, attains the Fruit of Conversion, and seeks pardon.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
confidence: high
cautions: The passage gives a conversion outcome but does not detail an extended
doctrinal debate.
- id: motif:4
label: Constancy in religious giving despite obstruction
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
basis: Anātha Piṇḍika states that the Fairy forbade him to support the Buddha and
give gifts, but could not stop him.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage presents the claim at the end; the earlier actions of continued
giving are summarized by the figure rather than narrated in detail here.
- id: motif:5
label: Divine refusal to aid one who has attacked religion
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_judgment
basis: The Fairy is refused by multiple higher beings, including Sakka, because
her speech is described as a blow against the religion of the Conqueror.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
confidence: medium
cautions: The refusal is corrective and advisory rather than a full judgment scene.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 13359-13371
quote_or_summary: The Fairy asks for help after being driven from her dwelling by
Anātha Piṇḍika and states that she had told him not to support the Buddha or the
Order and to bar Gotama from his house.
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 13372-13388
quote_or_summary: After being refused by an initial helper and by the four Archangels,
the Fairy appeals to Sakka; Sakka says she has done wrong by aiming a blow at
the religion of the Conqueror and cannot intercede directly.
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: lines 13389-13416
quote_or_summary: Sakka instructs the Fairy to assume the Merchant’s manager’s form,
use young ogres and demon power to recover debts, retrieve wealth washed from
the Aciravatī riverbank to the sea, gather ownerless treasure, and refill the
treasury with fifty-four thousands of thousands.
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: lines 13417-13436
quote_or_summary: The Fairy follows Sakka’s instructions, appears visibly in the
Merchant’s bed-chamber at midnight, confesses her ignorance, reports restoring
three sums of eighteen thousands of thousands, and asks Anātha Piṇḍika for pardon.
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 13437-13447
quote_or_summary: Anātha Piṇḍika reasons that the Fairy has confessed and undergone
punishment, says the Master should consider the matter, and agrees to take her
to the Buddha early in the morning.
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: lines 13448-13462
quote_or_summary: "“The sinner thinks the sin is good, / So long as it hath ripened
not; / But when the sin has ripened, then / The sinner sees that it was sin!”"
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:7
type: summary
locator: lines 13463-13467
quote_or_summary: At the close of the verses the Fairy is established in the Fruit
of Conversion, falls at the Teacher’s wheel-marked feet, asks pardon for wicked
words spoken in ignorance, and receives pardon from both the Teacher and the Merchant.
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 13468-13469
quote_or_summary: Anātha Piṇḍika tells the Teacher that the Fairy could not stop
him from supporting the Buddha or giving gifts, and asks whether this should count
as his merit.
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: Extraction is based directly on the provided passage. Motif taxonomy assignments
are cautious, especially where available categories only approximately match the
passage’s moral-restorative themes. No comparison claims were made because the
passage itself does not explicitly support comparison to another corpus or tradition.
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 the supplied passage and metadata; comparison_claims left empty.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:buddhist-jataka-birth-stories-rhys-davids-gutenberg__l13359-l13469
passage_sha256=aaafc35ed3ed4216009522804937095495711b98f3e8191892926408aadb8290