batch.motif.buddhist-jataka-birth-stories-rhys-davids-gutenberg-l3664-l3798
---
record_id: batch.motif.buddhist-jataka-birth-stories-rhys-davids-gutenberg-l3664-l3798
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 3664-3798
start: '3664'
end: '3798'
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: "“Surely thou shalt be a Buddha!”"
summary: The Bodhisatta sits cross-legged in joy and meditation, aware of supernatural
faculties. Dwellers or angels of ten thousand worlds proclaim that he will become
a Buddha and list cosmic and earthly omens matching those seen in former ages.
After hearing Dīpankara Buddha and the angels, the Bodhisatta reflects that the
words of Buddhas cannot fail and compares their certainty to fixed natural events.
language: English
quote_policy: quoted
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: The speaker says he is joyful, sits cross-legged, and thinks that he is subject
to ecstatic meditation and has mastered supernatural faculties.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Dwellers of ten thousand worlds behold the seated figure and shout that he
will be a Buddha.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: The omens seen in former ages when a Bodhisatta sat cross-legged are said
to be seen again on this day.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: Cold and heat cease, worlds become still, winds do not blow, and rivers cease
to flow.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:5
text: Flowers bloom on land and sea, creepers and trees bear fruit, gems glitter,
music sounds, flowers rain from the sky, the ocean bends, and ten thousand worlds
are shaken.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:6
text: Fires in hell die out; the sun is unclouded; stars, constellations, and lunar
mansions are visible; Visākhā is in conjunction with the moon; and vegetation
springs from the earth without rain.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:7
text: Creatures dwelling in holes and caves leave their lairs; mortals are content;
diseases, hunger, Desire, Hate, and Folly cease; danger, dust, and foul odours
are absent; celestial fragrance is present.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:8
text: All angels except the Formless are manifested, all hells become visible, walls,
doors, and rocks are no impediment, and death and birth do not take place at that
moment.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:9
text: The Bodhisatta hears the words of Dīpankara Buddha and of the angels of ten
thousand worlds and becomes filled with immeasurable resolution.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:10
text: The Bodhisatta concludes that Buddhas do not speak false or doubtful words
and that he will become a Buddha.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: obs:11
text: The certainty of the Buddhas’ word is compared to a clod falling, the death
of mortals, sunrise after night, a lion’s roar after leaving its den, and childbirth.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Bodhisatta
description: The first-person speaker who sits cross-legged, experiences joy and
meditation, hears the prophecy, and resolves that he will become a Buddha.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:7
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Dwellers or angels of ten thousand worlds
description: Cosmic beings who behold the Bodhisatta, proclaim that he will be a
Buddha, and whose words are later heard by him.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:7
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Dīpankara Buddha
description: A Buddha whose words are heard by the Bodhisatta in connection with
the prophecy.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Buddhas / Conquerors
description: A class of enlightened beings described as not speaking doubtful, vain,
or false words.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:8
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Creatures dwelling in holes and caves
description: Creatures that leave their holes, caves, or lairs during the omen sequence.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
roles:
- id: role:1
label: Meditating Bodhisatta and predicted future Buddha
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: He sits cross-legged in meditation and is repeatedly told that he will be
a Buddha.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: role:2
label: Cosmic witnesses and proclaimers
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: They behold the seated Bodhisatta and proclaim his future Buddhahood.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:3
label: Authoritative Buddha speaker
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: The Bodhisatta hears the words of Dīpankara Buddha and treats Buddha-speech
as unfailing.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: role:4
label: Truth-speaking Buddhas
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: The passage states that Buddhas or Conquerors do not speak doubtful, vain,
or false words.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:8
- id: role:5
label: Omen-responsive creatures
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: Creatures in holes and caves leave their lairs as part of the signs.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: Cross-legged seated posture
literal_form: The Bodhisatta seated cross-legged during ecstatic meditation.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: sym:2
label: Ten thousand worlds
literal_form: A cosmic scope in which dwellers or angels witness the Bodhisatta
and in which worlds are shaken or altered.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:7
- id: sym:3
label: Flowering and fruiting vegetation
literal_form: Flowers bloom, flowers rain from the sky, creepers and trees bear
fruit, and vegetation springs from the earth.
associated_figures: []
taxonomy_refs:
- tree
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: sym:4
label: Water bodies and rain absence
literal_form: Rivers cease to flow, the mighty ocean bends itself, and vegetation
appears though no rain fell.
associated_figures: []
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: sym:5
label: Quenched hell fires
literal_form: The fires of ten thousand worlds in hell die out.
associated_figures: []
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:6
label: Caves, holes, and lairs
literal_form: Creatures dwelling in holes and caves depart from their lairs.
associated_figures:
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs:
- cave
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: sym:7
label: Celestial bodies
literal_form: The unclouded sun, visible stars, glowing constellations, lunar mansions,
and the conjunction of Visākhā with the moon.
associated_figures: []
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:8
label: Vanishing impediments
literal_form: Walls, doors, and rocks are said to be no impediment and to have melted
into air.
associated_figures: []
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: sym:9
label: Natural certainty images
literal_form: A falling clod, mortal death, sunrise, a lion leaving its den and
roaring, and childbirth.
associated_figures:
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Joyful meditative sitting
summary: The Bodhisatta sits cross-legged in joy, reflects on ecstatic meditation,
and recognizes supernatural faculties.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Cosmic proclamation and omens
summary: Dwellers or angels of ten thousand worlds proclaim that the Bodhisatta
will become a Buddha and identify widespread omens across natural, celestial,
infernal, and social realms.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
- sym:3
- sym:4
- sym:5
- sym:6
- sym:7
- sym:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: scene:3
label: Resolution based on unfailing Buddha-speech
summary: After hearing Dīpankara Buddha and the angels, the Bodhisatta resolves
that he will become a Buddha because the words of Buddhas do not fail, illustrated
through natural certainty similes.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: Prophecy of future Buddhahood
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
basis: The Bodhisatta is repeatedly told by cosmic witnesses that he will become
a Buddha, and he accepts the prophecy as certain because Buddha-speech is unfailing.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:6
- ev:7
confidence: high
cautions: The supplied taxonomy has no specific category for Buddhist prediction
of future Buddhahood; the wisdom reference is broad.
- id: motif:2
label: Cosmic omens confirming spiritual destiny
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The passage lists widespread signs in weather, vegetation, gems, music, ocean,
hells, celestial bodies, creatures, human conditions, and barriers, each followed
by the assertion that the Bodhisatta will be Buddha.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
confidence: high
cautions: No narrower supplied taxonomy reference directly matches the omen catalogue.
- id: motif:3
label: Universal stilling and suspension at a decisive moment
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Winds stop, rivers cease, worlds are still, disease and hunger end, death
and birth do not take place, and ordinary impediments disappear.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:5
confidence: medium
cautions: This is a descriptive clustering of several signs rather than an explicitly
named motif in the passage.
- id: motif:4
label: Unfailing sacred speech verified by natural certainties
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
basis: The Bodhisatta states that Buddhas do not speak false or doubtful words and
compares their word to certain events such as falling objects, death, sunrise,
lion-roaring, and childbirth.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:8
confidence: high
cautions: The wisdom taxonomy reference is general; the motif is specifically about
the reliability of Buddha-speech.
comparison_claims:
- id: claim:1
claim: The passage itself frames the present omens as the same kind of signs seen
in former ages when a Bodhisatta sat cross-legged.
claim_level: same_motif
target: Former-age Bodhisatta omen pattern mentioned in the passage
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: medium
limitations: The passage mentions former ages but does not provide details of those
earlier instances within this excerpt.
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: quote
locator: lines 3664-3672; vv.88-90
quote_or_summary: The speaker is joyful, seats himself cross-legged, and thinks
he has mastered ecstatic meditation and supernatural faculties.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/buddhist/project-gutenberg/buddhist-birth-stories-volume-1-rhys-davids.md
rights_note: Public domain source; concise summary used.
- id: ev:2
type: quote
locator: lines 3674-3681; vv.91-92
quote_or_summary: Dwellers of ten thousand worlds behold him and proclaim, “Surely
thou shalt be a Buddha”; the omens are said to match those seen in former ages
when Bodhisatta sat cross-legged.
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:3
type: summary
locator: lines 3683-3717; vv.93-101
quote_or_summary: A catalogue of signs includes cessation of cold, heat, wind, and
rivers; stillness of worlds; universal blooming and fruiting; glittering gems;
earthly and celestial music; sky-raining flowers; bending ocean; and shaking worlds.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/buddhist/project-gutenberg/buddhist-birth-stories-volume-1-rhys-davids.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary used.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 3719-3734; vv.102-105
quote_or_summary: Hell fires are quenched; sun and stars are visible; vegetation
springs up without rain; constellations and lunar mansions glow; Visākhā is conjoined
with the moon.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/buddhist/project-gutenberg/buddhist-birth-stories-volume-1-rhys-davids.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary used.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 3736-3777; vv.106-116
quote_or_summary: Creatures leave holes and caves; humans are content; disease,
hunger, Desire, Hate, Folly, danger, dust, and bad odours cease; angels and hells
become visible; walls, doors, and rocks are no impediment; death and birth do
not occur at that moment.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/buddhist/project-gutenberg/buddhist-birth-stories-volume-1-rhys-davids.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary used.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: lines 3779-3790; vv.117-119
quote_or_summary: An exhortation urges strenuous effort; the Bodhisatta is glad
and reflects that Buddhas or Conquerors do not speak doubtful, vain, or false
words, so he will become a Buddha.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/buddhist/project-gutenberg/buddhist-birth-stories-volume-1-rhys-davids.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary used.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: prose after v.117, within lines 3779-3798
quote_or_summary: After hearing the words of Dīpankara Buddha and the angels of
ten thousand worlds, the Bodhisatta is filled with immeasurable resolution and
concludes that the word of Buddhas cannot fail.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/buddhist/project-gutenberg/buddhist-birth-stories-volume-1-rhys-davids.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary used.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: lines 3792-3798; vv.120-124
quote_or_summary: The Buddhas’ word is compared in certainty to a clod falling to
the ground, mortal death, sunrise after night, a lion’s roar after leaving its
den, and childbirth.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/buddhist/project-gutenberg/buddhist-birth-stories-volume-1-rhys-davids.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary used.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: medium
notes: Literal extraction is strong because the passage is explicit and repetitive.
Motif taxonomy alignment is less exact because the available motif list lacks
a specific category for Buddhist prediction and omen catalogues.
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. Comparison claims are limited to the passage’s own statement that these omens match those of former ages.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:buddhist-jataka-birth-stories-rhys-davids-gutenberg__l3664-l3798
passage_sha256=ee14be5b95fe7cba747933bae42f0783144ef47014933018667941754d35e338