batch.motif.buddhist-jataka-birth-stories-rhys-davids-gutenberg-l3549-l3662
---
record_id: batch.motif.buddhist-jataka-birth-stories-rhys-davids-gutenberg-l3549-l3662
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/buddhist/project-gutenberg/buddhist-birth-stories-volume-1-rhys-davids.md
passage_locator:
label: TABLE VII. / THE BODISATS. / TABLE VIII. / THE DISTANT EPOCH.; lines 3549-3662
start: '3549'
end: '3662'
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: "“Countless ages hence he will be a Buddha in this world.”"
summary: Dīpankara Buddha sees the hermit Sumedha lying in the mire, foresees that
he will become the Buddha Gotama after vast ages, and publicly prophesies details
of Gotama’s future life, family, disciples, renunciation, rice-milk meal, riverbank,
Bodhi seat, and enlightenment beneath a fig tree. Sumedha rejoices; crowds, Arhats,
angels, men, Nāgas, and Gandhabbas honor him. After they depart, Sumedha sits
cross-legged on flowers to investigate the Perfections, and angels from ten thousand
worlds acclaim the omens of his future Buddhahood.
language: English
quote_policy: quoted
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Dīpankara stands near Sumedha’s head, opens his eyes, sees Sumedha lying in
the mire, and considers whether Sumedha’s resolution to become a Buddha will be
fulfilled.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Dīpankara foresees that Sumedha will become a Buddha named Gotama after four
asankheyyas and a hundred thousand cycles.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: The prophecy names Gotama’s future city, mother, father, chief disciples,
servitor, and chief female disciples.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: The prophecy says the future Gotama will leave the world, exert himself, receive
and eat rice milk or rice pottage by the Neranjarā, ascend the throne of Knowledge,
and attain Buddhahood at the foot of an Indian fig tree.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:5
text: Sumedha is filled with happiness after hearing that his prayer will be accomplished.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:6
text: The multitudes regard Sumedha as an embryo Buddha and express hope that, if
they fail under Dīpankara’s dispensation, they may attain paths and fruition in
Sumedha’s future presence.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:7
text: Dīpankara offers eight handfuls of flowers to the Bodhisatta, salutes him,
and departs.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:8
text: Arhats, angels, and men make offerings of perfumes and garlands, bow or salute,
and depart.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:9
text: After the others leave, the Bodhisatta sits cross-legged on a heap of flowers
and declares that he will investigate the Perfections.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:10
text: Angels in ten thousand worlds gather, applaud, say that the omens appearing
for former Bodhisattas have appeared for Sumedha, and urge him to exert himself.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:11
text: The passage uses a simile of men crossing a river by a lower ford when they
cannot cross at the opposite ford.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Dīpankara Buddha
description: A Buddha described as blessed, world-knowing, incomparable, receiver
of offerings, and knower of all worlds; he gives the prophecy concerning Sumedha.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:6
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Sumedha / the Bodhisatta / future Gotama
description: An austere hermit with matted hair lying in the mire, later honored
as an embryo Buddha and seated cross-legged to investigate the Perfections.
role_refs:
- role:3
- role:4
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
- ev:7
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Queen Māyā
description: Named in the prophecy as the mother who will bear the future Gotama.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: King Suddhodana
description: Named in the prophecy as the future Gotama’s father.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Upatissa
description: Named as Gotama’s chief disciple.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Kolita
description: Named as Gotama’s second disciple.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Ānanda
description: Named as the Buddha’s servitor who will attend upon the Conqueror.
role_refs:
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Khemā
description: Named as Gotama’s chief female disciple.
role_refs:
- role:11
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: Uppalavaṇṇā
description: Named as Gotama’s second chief female disciple.
role_refs:
- role:12
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:10
name_or_label: Multitudes / men and angels
description: Hear Dīpankara’s words, rejoice, call Sumedha an embryo Buddha, express
future hope, and later bow and offer homage.
role_refs:
- role:13
- role:14
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: fig:11
name_or_label: Arhats / disciples of the Buddha
description: Four hundred thousand Arhats make offerings to the Bodhisatta, reverentially
salute him, and depart.
role_refs:
- role:14
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: fig:12
name_or_label: Angels in ten thousand worlds
description: Assemble when the Bodhisatta sits cross-legged, applaud him, affirm
the omens of Buddhahood, and urge exertion.
role_refs:
- role:15
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: fig:13
name_or_label: Nāgas and Gandhabbas
description: Named among beings who bow down to the Bodhisatta and depart.
role_refs:
- role:14
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
roles:
- id: role:1
label: prophetic Buddha
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Dīpankara uses prescient vision and publicly declares Sumedha’s future Buddhahood.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:2
label: recipient of offerings
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The verses call Dīpankara the receiver of offerings.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:3
label: austere hermit
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Sumedha is called an austere hermit with matted hair and is seen lying in
the mire.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:4
label: Bodhisatta / embryo Buddha
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: The multitudes call Sumedha an embryo Buddha, and the narrative calls him
the Bodhisatta.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:7
- id: role:5
label: future Buddha Gotama
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Dīpankara prophesies that Sumedha will become a Buddha named Gotama.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: role:6
label: future mother
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Māyā is named as the mother who will bear Gotama.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:7
label: future father
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Suddhodana is named as Gotama’s father.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:8
label: future chief disciple
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: Upatissa is named as the chief disciple.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:9
label: future second disciple
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: Kolita is named as the second disciple.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:10
label: future servitor
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: Ānanda is named as the Buddha’s servitor.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:11
label: future chief female disciple
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: Khemā is named as a chief female disciple.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:12
label: future second female disciple
assigned_to:
- fig:9
basis: Uppalavaṇṇā is named as a second female disciple.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:13
label: hopeful future followers
assigned_to:
- fig:10
basis: The multitudes hope to attain paths and fruition in Sumedha’s future presence
if they fail under Dīpankara.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:14
label: homage-givers
assigned_to:
- fig:10
- fig:11
- fig:13
basis: These groups bow, salute, or make offerings to the Bodhisatta.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: role:15
label: omen witnesses and encouragers
assigned_to:
- fig:12
basis: The angels declare that the omens of former Bodhisattas have appeared and
urge Sumedha to exert himself.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: mire
literal_form: mire in which Sumedha lies
associated_figures:
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:2
label: rice milk / rice pottage
literal_form: meal of rice milk or rice pottage received before approaching the
Bodhi-tree
associated_figures:
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs:
- milk
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:3
label: Neranjarā river
literal_form: river and riverbank where Gotama receives or eats rice pottage
associated_figures:
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:4
label: Bodhi-tree / Indian fig-tree / Assattha
literal_form: tree at whose foot Gotama will attain Buddhahood; called Assattha
in the passage
associated_figures:
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs:
- tree
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:5
label: Ajapāla tree
literal_form: tree at whose foot Gotama sits before receiving rice pottage
associated_figures:
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs:
- tree
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:6
label: banyan-tree
literal_form: tree at whose foot Gotama receives a meal of rice milk
associated_figures:
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs:
- tree
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:7
label: throne of Knowledge / throne of Bodhi
literal_form: seat or throne ascended or reverentially saluted before enlightenment
associated_figures:
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:8
label: flowers
literal_form: eight handfuls of flowers offered by Dīpankara and a heap of flowers
on which the Bodhisatta sits
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: sym:9
label: river ford simile
literal_form: men crossing a river by a lower ford if unable to cross at the opposite
ford
associated_figures:
- fig:10
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Dīpankara’s recognition of Sumedha
summary: Dīpankara stands by Sumedha’s head, sees him lying in the mire, and uses
prescient vision to determine his future Buddhahood.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Public prophecy of future Gotama
summary: Dīpankara announces that Sumedha will become Buddha Gotama and names Gotama’s
future family, disciples, renunciation, rice-milk meal, riverbank, Bodhi seat,
and enlightenment tree.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:8
- fig:9
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
- sym:3
- sym:4
- sym:5
- sym:6
- sym:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: scene:3
label: Joy, vows, and homage after the prophecy
summary: Sumedha rejoices; the multitudes call him an embryo Buddha, compare their
hope to crossing a river at another ford, and Dīpankara, Arhats, angels, men,
Nāgas, and Gandhabbas honor the Bodhisatta before departing.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:10
- fig:11
- fig:13
symbol_refs:
- sym:8
- sym:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: scene:4
label: Investigation of the Perfections and angelic acclaim
summary: After the assembly has departed, the Bodhisatta sits cross-legged on a
heap of flowers to investigate the Perfections, while angels from ten thousand
worlds acclaim the omens of Buddhahood and urge exertion.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:12
symbol_refs:
- sym:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: Prophecy of a future Buddha
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
basis: A Buddha uses prescient vision to foretell Sumedha’s eventual Buddhahood
as Gotama after vast ages and gives details of the future life.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
confidence: high
cautions: The available taxonomy has no exact entry for prophetic recognition of
a future Buddha; the wisdom family is a broad fit due to prescient knowledge and
Buddhahood.
- id: motif:2
label: Bodhi tree as enlightenment site
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_tree_axis
basis: The prophecy states that Gotama will attain Supreme Buddhahood at the foot
of an Indian fig tree, later called the sacred Assattha tree.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
confidence: high
cautions: The passage presents the tree as the enlightenment site, not explicitly
as a cosmic axis.
- id: motif:3
label: Renunciation and great exertion before enlightenment
taxonomy_refs:
- departure
- initiation
- mystical_quest
basis: The prophecy describes Gotama departing from Kapila, retiring from the world,
performing austerities, making the great exertion, and then attaining Buddhahood.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
confidence: medium
cautions: These taxonomy refs are interpretive groupings; the passage itself uses
Buddhist narrative terms rather than generic quest terminology.
- id: motif:4
label: Sacred meal before awakening
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_exchange
basis: The future Gotama is said to receive a meal of rice milk or rice pottage
at a tree and by the Neranjarā before going to the Bodhi-tree.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage states reception of food but does not elaborate the giver
or ritual meaning in this excerpt.
- id: motif:5
label: Omens confirming future Buddhahood
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
basis: Angels say that the auguries appearing for former Bodhisattas have appeared
for Sumedha and that one to whom these omens appear will surely become Buddha.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
confidence: high
cautions: The specific auguries are referred to but not individually listed in this
passage.
- id: motif:6
label: Deferred salvation under a future teacher
taxonomy_refs:
- return
basis: The multitudes say that if they fail to attain paths and fruition under Dīpankara,
they may do so in the future presence of Sumedha when he becomes Buddha.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
confidence: medium
cautions: The return taxonomy is approximate; the passage concerns future access
to a teacher rather than the return of a single hero.
comparison_claims:
- id: claim:1
claim: The passage itself compares deferred attainment under a future Buddha to
travelers who miss one river ford and cross at a lower ford.
claim_level: same_function
target: river-ford simile for delayed spiritual attainment
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: high
limitations: This is an internal simile in the passage, not evidence of historical
contact with another tradition.
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 3549-3567
quote_or_summary: Dīpankara stands by Sumedha’s head, sees him lying in the mire,
uses prescient gaze, and declares that after four asankheyyas and a hundred thousand
cycles he will become Buddha Gotama.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/buddhist/project-gutenberg/buddhist-birth-stories-volume-1-rhys-davids.md
rights_note: Public domain source; concise summary.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 3567-3575, 3590-3597
quote_or_summary: The prophecy names Kapilavatthu, Māyā, Suddhodana, Upatissa, Kolita,
Ānanda, Khemā, and Uppalavaṇṇā as figures in Gotama’s future life and community.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/buddhist/project-gutenberg/buddhist-birth-stories-volume-1-rhys-davids.md
rights_note: Public domain source; concise summary.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 3575-3589, 3598-3599
quote_or_summary: The prophecy describes Gotama’s departure, austerities, rice-milk
or rice-pottage meal, Neranjarā riverbank, approach to the Bodhi-tree, salutation
of the Bodhi throne, and Buddhahood beneath an Indian fig tree called Assattha.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/buddhist/project-gutenberg/buddhist-birth-stories-volume-1-rhys-davids.md
rights_note: Public domain source; concise summary.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 3601-3604
quote_or_summary: Sumedha says his prayer will be accomplished and is filled with
happiness; the multitudes rejoice and call him an embryo Buddha and tender shoot
of a Buddha.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/buddhist/project-gutenberg/buddhist-birth-stories-volume-1-rhys-davids.md
rights_note: Public domain source; concise summary.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 3604-3614, 3634-3643
quote_or_summary: The multitudes compare their hope to men who cross a river at
a lower ford if they miss the opposite ford; if they fail under Dīpankara, they
hope to attain paths and fruition before Sumedha as a future Buddha.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/buddhist/project-gutenberg/buddhist-birth-stories-volume-1-rhys-davids.md
rights_note: Public domain source; concise summary.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: lines 3614-3622, 3644-3650
quote_or_summary: Dīpankara praises and offers eight handfuls of flowers to the
Bodhisatta, salutes him, and departs; Arhats, men, angels, Nāgas, and Gandhabbas
offer perfumes or garlands, bow, salute, and depart.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/buddhist/project-gutenberg/buddhist-birth-stories-volume-1-rhys-davids.md
rights_note: Public domain source; concise summary.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: lines 3623-3633, 3651-3662
quote_or_summary: The Bodhisatta sits cross-legged on a heap of flowers to investigate
the Perfections; angels from ten thousand worlds assemble, applaud, say the auguries
of former Bodhisattas have appeared, and urge him to exert himself.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/buddhist/project-gutenberg/buddhist-birth-stories-volume-1-rhys-davids.md
rights_note: Public domain source; concise summary.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: medium
notes: The passage is explicit about figures, prophecy, offerings, omens, and enlightenment
sequence. Motif taxonomy mappings are partly approximate because available motif
families do not include exact Buddhist categories such as Bodhisatta prediction
or perfection practice.
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. Diacritics normalized where evident; Uppalava_nn_ā represented as Uppalavaṇṇā in labels while evidence remains summarized.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:buddhist-jataka-birth-stories-rhys-davids-gutenberg__l3549-l3662
passage_sha256=09ea751276bbdd173d7182ba6c9d913d275c210b9a51ef19d4329ede22ff0370