batch.motif.buddhist-jataka-birth-stories-rhys-davids-gutenberg-l13471-l13594
---
record_id: batch.motif.buddhist-jataka-birth-stories-rhys-davids-gutenberg-l13471-l13594
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 13471-13594
start: '13471'
end: '13594'
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 Teacher tells Anātha Piṇḍika a former-birth tale: the Bodisat, as
Treasurer of Benāres, practices gifts and precepts. A Pacceka Buddha comes for
alms after seven days without food. Māra creates a deep fiery pit to stop the
gift, but the Bodisat resolves not to turn back, steps into the fire with the
alms, is supported by a lotus rising from the pit, gives the food, and then preaches
charity and righteousness.'
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: The Teacher frames the tale as an example of giving gifts despite Māra’s obstruction.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: The Bodisat is born into the Treasurer of Benāres’s family during Brahma-datta’s
reign and becomes Treasurer after his father’s death.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: The Bodisat has six Gift-halls built and practices giving, precepts, and Sabbath
observance.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: A Pacceka Buddha, after seven days in trance, prepares himself at Anotatta
lake and Mount Manosilā, creates a begging-bowl, travels through the sky, and
stands at the Treasurer’s door.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:5
text: Māra says the Pacceka Buddha will perish if he receives no food that day and
declares that he must destroy the donor and stop the gift.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:6
text: Māra creates an eighty-fathom-deep pit of live coals in the middle of the
house and remains in the sky.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:7
text: The servant and others are frightened by the fiery pit and flee or stop.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:8
text: The Bodisat identifies Māra’s obstruction and states that he will test whether
his power or Māra’s is greater.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:9
text: The Bodisat stands at the pit’s edge with the rice dish, questions Māra, and
declares that Māra will not stop the almsgiving or destroy the Pacceka Buddha’s
life.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:10
text: The Bodisat says he would rather fall into the hell-like pit than do an unworthy
deed, and he walks into the fiery furnace holding the rice.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:11
text: A large lotus-flower rises from the bottom of the fiery pit and receives the
Bodisat’s feet; pollen falls on and covers his body like golden dust.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: obs:12
text: Standing on the lotus, the Bodisat pours the food into the Pacceka Buddha’s
bowl.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: obs:13
text: The Pacceka Buddha gives thanks, throws the bowl aloft, rises into the sky,
and departs toward the Himālaya region.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: obs:14
text: Māra leaves in sorrow after his defeat.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
- id: obs:15
text: The Bodisat preaches the Law in praise of charity and righteousness, returns
home with the multitude, continues good works, and dies according to his deeds.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:13
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: The Teacher
description: Speaker who explains the present situation and tells the former-birth
tale at Anātha Piṇḍika’s request.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Anātha Piṇḍika
description: Householder addressed by the Teacher as a converted person and Elect
disciple; he requests the tale.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: The Bodisat / Treasurer of Benāres
description: Born in the Treasurer’s family, later appointed Treasurer, builder
of Gift-halls, giver of alms, and central donor who faces Māra’s fiery pit.
role_refs:
- role:3
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:7
- ev:9
- ev:10
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Pacceka Buddha
description: Ascetic Buddha who has risen from a seven days’ trance, comes to the
Treasurer’s house for food, receives the alms, and departs through the sky.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:10
- ev:11
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Māra / Vasavatti Māra / the Wicked One
description: Being who creates a pit of live coals to stop the almsgiving and destroy
the Pacceka Buddha’s life; he is defeated and leaves sorrowing.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:8
- ev:12
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Servant
description: Servant asked to bring the bowl, who stops in fear when he sees the
fiery pit.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: People / multitude
description: People who witness the events, initially fear the pit, later see the
Pacceka Buddha rise, and gather around the Bodisat after his preaching.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:11
- ev:13
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Brahma-datta
description: King reigning in Benāres at the time of the former-birth tale.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
roles:
- id: role:1
label: frame narrator and teacher
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: He interprets the present event and tells the tale.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:2
label: requesting hearer
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: The tale is told at Anātha Piṇḍika’s request.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:3
label: generous donor
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: He builds Gift-halls, gives gifts, and offers food to the Pacceka Buddha.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:10
- id: role:4
label: steadfast protagonist
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: He refuses to turn back from the fiery pit and walks into it to complete
the alms-giving.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:9
- id: role:5
label: recipient of alms
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: He comes for food and receives the food placed in his bowl.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:10
- id: role:6
label: obstructor of almsgiving
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: Māra creates the pit to stop the gift and destroy the Pacceka Buddha’s life.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:8
- id: role:7
label: frightened servant
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: The servant stops when he sees the pit of live coals.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: role:8
label: witnessing crowd
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: People see the danger, witness the ascension, and gather around the Bodisat.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:11
- ev:13
- id: role:9
label: setting ruler
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: The tale is set during Brahma-datta’s reign in Benāres.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: pit of live coals
literal_form: An eighty-fathom-deep pit of live coals, burning and flaming like
Avīci, created in the house.
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:9
- id: sym:2
label: alms food
literal_form: Dish of rice / food offered by the Bodisat to the Pacceka Buddha.
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:10
- id: sym:3
label: begging-bowl
literal_form: Bowl created by the Pacceka Buddha and held out to receive the food.
associated_figures:
- fig:4
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:10
- ev:11
- id: sym:4
label: lotus-flower in the fire pit
literal_form: A large lotus-flower rises from the fiery pit and supports the Bodisat’s
feet.
associated_figures:
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: sym:5
label: golden pollen
literal_form: Pollen from the lotus falls on the Bodisat’s head and covers his body
like golden dust.
associated_figures:
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: sym:6
label: Anotatta lake water
literal_form: Water from Anotatta lake used by the Pacceka Buddha to wash his face.
associated_figures:
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:7
label: Mount Manosilā and Himālaya region
literal_form: Mountain settings named in the Pacceka Buddha’s preparation and departure.
associated_figures:
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs:
- mountain
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:11
- id: sym:8
label: sky path
literal_form: The Pacceka Buddha travels through the sky; Māra remains in the sky;
the Pacceka Buddha later rises and departs through the sky.
associated_figures:
- fig:4
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:5
- ev:11
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Frame explanation and request
summary: The Teacher addresses Anātha Piṇḍika and introduces an earlier wonder of
gift-giving despite Māra’s threat, then begins the tale at his request.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:5
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: The Bodisat becomes a charitable Treasurer
summary: In Benāres under Brahma-datta, the Bodisat is born in the Treasurer’s family,
gains knowledge, becomes Treasurer, builds six Gift-halls, and practices giving
and observance.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:8
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: scene:3
label: The Pacceka Buddha arrives for alms
summary: After seven days’ trance, the Pacceka Buddha prepares himself with lake
water and robes, creates a bowl, travels through the sky, and stands at the Treasurer’s
door as breakfast is being brought in.
figure_refs:
- fig:4
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
- sym:6
- sym:7
- sym:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: scene:4
label: Māra creates the fiery obstacle
summary: Māra decides to stop the gift and creates a deep pit of live coals in the
house; the servant and others are terrified.
figure_refs:
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: scene:5
label: The Bodisat confronts Māra
summary: The Bodisat recognizes the obstruction, takes the rice, stands at the fire
pit, questions Māra, and declares he will not allow the gift to be stopped.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: scene:6
label: Gift completed through the lotus miracle
summary: The Bodisat vows not to do an unworthy deed, walks into the fiery furnace,
is supported by a lotus rising from the pit, and pours the food into the Pacceka
Buddha’s bowl.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
- sym:3
- sym:4
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
- id: scene:7
label: Departure, defeat, and teaching
summary: The Pacceka Buddha gives thanks and departs through the sky toward Himālaya;
Māra leaves defeated; the Bodisat preaches charity and righteousness and continues
good works.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
- sym:7
- sym:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- ev:12
- ev:13
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: Steadfast almsgiving despite supernatural obstruction
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_exchange
basis: The Bodisat insists on giving alms to the Pacceka Buddha even when Māra creates
a fiery pit to prevent the gift.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:10
confidence: high
cautions: The taxonomy label is approximate; the passage emphasizes almsgiving,
merit, and moral steadfastness rather than an exchange bargain.
- id: motif:2
label: Moral trial at a fiery threshold
taxonomy_refs:
- initiation
basis: The Bodisat must cross or enter a hell-like fiery pit to complete a righteous
deed, and his resolve is tested before witnesses.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:9
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage does not explicitly call the event an initiation; this is
a pattern-level description based on the trial structure.
- id: motif:3
label: Miraculous support for the righteous donor
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: When the Bodisat walks into the fiery furnace, a lotus rises from the pit
to receive his feet and allows him to complete the alms-giving unharmed.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
confidence: high
cautions: No available taxonomy reference directly matches the lotus rescue in this
passage.
- id: motif:4
label: Ascetic recipient departs through the sky after receiving alms
taxonomy_refs:
- ascent
basis: After receiving food and giving thanks, the Pacceka Buddha rises into the
sky and departs toward the Himālaya region.
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
confidence: medium
cautions: The ascent is a brief episode and not the central action of the tale.
- id: motif:5
label: Wisdom and righteousness overcoming Māra’s obstruction
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
basis: The Bodisat recognizes Māra’s attempt to obstruct charity, refuses to be
shaken, and later preaches the Law in praise of charity and righteousness.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:12
- ev:13
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage foregrounds charity and constancy more than discursive wisdom.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 13471-13489
quote_or_summary: The Teacher addresses Anātha Piṇḍika as a faithful disciple, says
it was wondrous that earlier wise people gave gifts despite Māra’s threat of a
coal-filled pit, and begins the tale at his request.
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 13491-13503
quote_or_summary: Long ago under Brahma-datta in Benāres, the Bodisat is born in
the Treasurer’s family, becomes learned, is appointed Treasurer, builds six Gift-halls,
gives gifts, keeps precepts, and observes Sabbath-days.
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 13505-13516
quote_or_summary: A Pacceka Buddha rises from a seven days’ trance, prepares with
Anotatta lake water, robes himself on Mount Manosilā, creates a begging-bowl,
travels through the sky, and stands at the Treasurer’s door.
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 13522-13527
quote_or_summary: Māra is agitated and says the Pacceka Buddha has gone seven days
without food; if he gets none today he will perish, so Māra must destroy the donor
and stop the gift.
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 13529-13533
quote_or_summary: Māra creates in the house an eighty-fathom-deep pit of Acacia-wood
charcoal, burning and flaming like Avīci, and remains in the sky.
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 13535-13541
quote_or_summary: The servant sent for the bowl sees the burning pit, is terrified,
and stops; other people who come up are overcome with fear and flee.
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 13543-13549
quote_or_summary: The Bodisat thinks Vasavatti Māra is obstructing his almsgiving
and states that he cannot be shaken by hundreds or thousands of Māras; he will
test whose power is greater.
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 13551-13566
quote_or_summary: The Bodisat takes the rice dish, stands at the edge of the fire
pit, questions Māra, and hears Māra admit he made it to stop the almsgiving and
destroy the Pacceka Buddha; the Bodisat refuses to allow either.
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: quote
locator: lines 13568-13580
quote_or_summary: "“Far rather will I fall into this hell ... than do a deed that
is unworthy!” The Bodisat holds the rice firmly and walks into the fiery furnace."
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/buddhist/project-gutenberg/buddhist-birth-stories-volume-1-rhys-davids.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short quotation used.
- id: ev:10
type: summary
locator: lines 13582-13588
quote_or_summary: A large lotus-flower rises from the bottom of the fiery pit, receives
the Bodisat’s feet, scatters pollen like golden dust over him, and he pours the
food into the Pacceka Buddha’s bowl while standing on the lotus.
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: lines 13590-13594
quote_or_summary: The Pacceka Buddha takes the alms, gives thanks, throws the bowl
aloft, rises into the sky in public view, and departs toward the mountain regions
of Himālaya.
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:12
type: summary
locator: following lines within supplied passage after 13594
quote_or_summary: Māra, sorrowing over his defeat, goes away to his dwelling place.
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:13
type: summary
locator: following lines within supplied passage after 13594
quote_or_summary: The Bodisat remains on the lotus, preaches the Law to the people
in praise of charity and righteousness, returns home with the multitude, gives
gifts and does good works lifelong, and dies according to his deeds.
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 explicit about figures, actions, and objects. Motif taxonomy
mapping is partly approximate because the available taxonomy has no direct label
for almsgiving obstructed by Māra or lotus support in fire. No comparison claims
were made because the passage itself does not support comparison beyond its internal
Buddhist frame.
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. Some evidence after the provided label end is identified as within the supplied passage because the user-supplied passage text continues beyond the stated end locator.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:buddhist-jataka-birth-stories-rhys-davids-gutenberg__l13471-l13594
passage_sha256=728797a439cc384629d59a57ad703413b6812e8b610a1db8ab6f44edf24966d2