batch.motif.buddhist-jataka-birth-stories-rhys-davids-gutenberg-l3921-l4041
---
record_id: batch.motif.buddhist-jataka-birth-stories-rhys-davids-gutenberg-l3921-l4041
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 3921-4041
start: '3921'
end: '4041'
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: 'Sumedha repeatedly considers that more Buddha-making conditions remain
to be found. He beholds and resolves to fulfil the fifth through ninth perfections:
Exertion, Longsuffering, Truth, Resolution, and Good-will. Each perfection is
explained through an analogy: the energetic lion, the patient earth, Venus keeping
its course, the immovable mountain, and water cooling good and bad alike.'
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Sumedha considers that the Buddha-making conditions already found cannot be
the only ones and investigates further conditions.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: obs:2
text: Sumedha beholds the fifth Perfection of Exertion and resolves to fulfil it.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: The passage compares exertion to a lion, king of beasts, that is not laggard
in lying, standing, and walking.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:4
text: Sumedha beholds the sixth Perfection of Longsuffering and resolves to fulfil
it.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:5
text: The passage compares longsuffering to the earth, which endures pure and impure
things thrown upon it without anger, pity, desire, or repulsion.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:6
text: Sumedha beholds the seventh Perfection of Truth and is instructed not to utter
a conscious lie even under threat or for advantage.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:7
text: The passage compares truthfulness to the planet Venus, which keeps its own
course and does not depart from its path.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:8
text: Sumedha beholds the eighth Perfection of Resolution and resolves to fulfil
it.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:9
text: The passage compares firm resolution to a rocky mountain that remains immovable
when struck by winds from all directions.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:10
text: Sumedha beholds the ninth Perfection of Good-will and is instructed to have
one mind toward friends and foes.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:11
text: The passage compares good-will to water that refreshes good men and bad alike
with coolness.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Sumedha
description: Addressed as wise; he investigates, beholds, and resolves to fulfil
successive perfections in order to attain Buddhahood.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: former sages and former Buddhas
description: Prior exemplars said to have practised and followed the perfections.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: lion, king of beasts
description: Animal exemplar described as strenuous and not laggard in every action.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
roles:
- id: role:1
label: Buddhahood aspirant
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Sumedha is repeatedly instructed to fulfil perfections so that he may become
a Buddha or attain supreme Buddhaship.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: role:2
label: precedent practitioners
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: The perfections are described as practised and followed by former sages or
former Buddhas.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: role:3
label: exemplar of exertion
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: The lion is used as the model for strenuous, non-laggard action.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: lion as exertion image
literal_form: lion, king of beasts
associated_figures:
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:2
label: earth as longsuffering image
literal_form: earth receiving pure and impure things
associated_figures: []
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: sym:3
label: thunderbolt as threat image
literal_form: thunderbolt descending upon the head
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:4
label: Venus as truth-course image
literal_form: planet Venus keeping its own course
associated_figures: []
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:5
label: mountain as resolution image
literal_form: rocky mountain unshaken by winds
associated_figures: []
taxonomy_refs:
- mountain
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:6
label: water as impartial good-will image
literal_form: water refreshing good and bad alike
associated_figures: []
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Discovery of the Perfection of Exertion
summary: Sumedha beholds the fifth perfection, Exertion, resolves to fulfil it,
and is instructed to be strenuous like a lion in all existences and acts.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Discovery of the Perfection of Longsuffering
summary: Sumedha beholds the sixth perfection, Longsuffering, resolves to fulfil
it, and is instructed to endure praise and reproach as the earth endures pure
and impure things.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: scene:3
label: Discovery of the Perfection of Truth
summary: Sumedha beholds the seventh perfection, Truth, and is instructed never
to lie, even under threat or for gain, but to keep to truth as Venus keeps its
course.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: scene:4
label: Discovery of the Perfection of Resolution
summary: Sumedha beholds the eighth perfection, Resolution, resolves to fulfil it,
and is instructed to remain unshaken like a mountain in the wind.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
symbol_refs:
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: scene:5
label: Discovery of the Perfection of Good-will
summary: Sumedha beholds the ninth perfection, Good-will, and is instructed to maintain
the same friendly feeling toward friends and foes, like water cooling good and
bad alike.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
symbol_refs:
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: progressive search for Buddha-making conditions
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
- mystical_quest
basis: Sumedha repeatedly reasons that more conditions remain, seeks or investigates
them, and beholds successive perfections leading toward Buddhahood.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
confidence: medium
cautions: The taxonomy links are broad; the passage presents doctrinal perfections
rather than a narrative quest episode in the ordinary adventure sense.
- id: motif:2
label: virtues taught through natural and cosmic exemplars
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: 'Each perfection is illustrated by a literal exemplar from animal, earth,
celestial, mountain, or water imagery: lion, earth, Venus, mountain, and water.'
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
confidence: high
cautions: This is a local pattern within the passage, not a supplied taxonomy family.
- id: motif:3
label: impartial endurance and benevolence
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: 'The passage presents models of impartiality: the earth accepts pure and
impure things, and water refreshes good and bad alike; Sumedha is told to endure
praise and reproach and show good-will to friends and foes.'
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:5
confidence: high
cautions: This motif is derived from repeated ethical analogies within the passage.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 3921-3945
quote_or_summary: Sumedha beholds the fifth Perfection of Exertion, said to have
been practised by former sages, resolves to attain it, and is instructed to exert
himself like a lion, king of beasts, in order to attain Buddhahood.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/buddhist/project-gutenberg/buddhist-birth-stories-volume-1-rhys-davids.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary based on supplied passage.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 3946-3971
quote_or_summary: Sumedha beholds the sixth Perfection of Longsuffering, said to
have been practised by former Buddhas, and is instructed to endure praise and
reproach as the earth endures pure and impure things thrown upon it.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/buddhist/project-gutenberg/buddhist-birth-stories-volume-1-rhys-davids.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary based on supplied passage.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 3972-3997
quote_or_summary: Sumedha beholds the seventh Perfection of Truth, said to have
been practised by former Buddhas, and is instructed not to utter a conscious lie
even if a thunderbolt descends, but to keep to truth as Venus keeps its path.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/buddhist/project-gutenberg/buddhist-birth-stories-volume-1-rhys-davids.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary based on supplied passage.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 3998-4023
quote_or_summary: Sumedha beholds the eighth Perfection of Resolution, said to have
been practised by former Buddhas, resolves to attain it, and is instructed to
remain immovable like a rocky mountain unshaken by winds.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/buddhist/project-gutenberg/buddhist-birth-stories-volume-1-rhys-davids.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary based on supplied passage.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 4024-4041
quote_or_summary: Sumedha beholds the ninth Perfection of Good-will and is instructed
to have one mind toward friends and foes, like water that refreshes good men and
bad alike.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/buddhist/project-gutenberg/buddhist-birth-stories-volume-1-rhys-davids.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary based on supplied passage.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: high
notes: The passage clearly identifies figures, perfections, and analogy images.
Motif taxonomy assignments are cautious because the passage is primarily doctrinal
and didactic. No external comparison claims were added.
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: |-
Extraction uses only the supplied passage and metadata.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:buddhist-jataka-birth-stories-rhys-davids-gutenberg__l3921-l4041
passage_sha256=de5574862b266c2c076f198383c8c6934d94fd93aded2a1df0fe2b90eca36083