batch.motif.buddhist-jataka-birth-stories-rhys-davids-gutenberg-l4365-l4434
---
record_id: batch.motif.buddhist-jataka-birth-stories-rhys-davids-gutenberg-l4365-l4434
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 4365-4434
start: '4365'
end: '4434'
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 passage describes Mangala Buddha’s assemblies, the miraculous ordination
of Ānanda and his retinue, Mangala’s extraordinary bodily light filling ten thousand
worlds, and two former-life deeds explaining this radiance: the joyful gift of
his children to a demon disguised as a brahmin, and a fiery circumambulation of
a relic shrine in which he remains unharmed.'
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: 'After one asankheyya, four Buddhas are said to have been born in the same
cycle: Mangala, Sumana, Revata, and Sobhita.'
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Mangala Buddha has three assemblies of saints, with the third associated with
prince Ānanda and a large retinue who hear the Teacher preach and attain Arhatship.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: After the Teacher says, “Come, priests,” Ānanda and his retinue receive robes
and bowls by miraculous means and attend upon him.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:4
text: Mangala Buddha’s bodily light permanently fills ten thousand worlds and makes
trees, earth, mountains, seas, and ordinary objects appear covered with gold.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:5
text: During Mangala Buddha’s lifetime, the sun, moon, and other heavenly bodies
cannot shine by their own light, and living beings distinguish night and day by
flowers and animal cries.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:6
text: The passage explains Mangala Buddha’s permanent radiance as the result of
a prayer made during a former existence.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: obs:7
text: In a former Bodhisatta existence, he dwells with wife and children on a mountain
compared to Vanka mountain of the Vessantara Jātaka.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:8
text: A demon named Kharadāthika approaches the Bodhisatta in the guise of a brahmin
and asks for his two children.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:9
text: The Bodhisatta gives both children, the earth quakes, and the demon devours
the children while the Bodhisatta looks on without sorrow.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:10
text: After giving the children, the Bodhisatta prays that rays of light may one
day issue from him in a similar way.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:11
text: In another former existence, the Bodhisatta visits a Buddha’s relic shrine
and declares that he ought to sacrifice his life for that Buddha.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:12
text: The Bodhisatta wraps his body like torches, prepares a golden vessel with
clarified butter and a thousand wicks, sets fire to his body beginning with his
head, and circumambulates the shrine through the night.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:13
text: Although he burns his body in the ritual act, not even a hair root is heated,
and the passage says that religion protects one who follows it rightly.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Mangala Buddha
description: A Buddha whose third assembly includes Ānanda and his retinue, and
whose bodily light permanently fills ten thousand worlds.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Prince Ānanda
description: Mangala Buddha’s step-brother, who comes with a large retinue to hear
the Teacher preach and attains Arhatship.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Ānanda’s retinue
description: An assembly accompanying Ānanda; they attain Arhatship and receive
robes and bowls by miraculous means.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Former-life Bodhisatta
description: Mangala Buddha in former Bodhisatta existences, described as giving
his children to a disguised demon and later performing a fiery act of devotion
at a relic shrine.
role_refs:
- role:5
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Kharadāthika
description: A demon who comes in the guise of a brahmin, asks for the Bodhisatta’s
two children, and devours them.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: The Bodhisatta’s two children
description: The children requested by the disguised demon, given by the Bodhisatta,
and devoured by the demon.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Buddha of the relic shrine
description: A Buddha whose relic shrine the Bodhisatta visits before declaring
that he ought to sacrifice his life for that Buddha.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
roles:
- id: role:1
label: Teacher
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Mangala Buddha preaches the Law and receives homage and attendance after
the miraculous ordination.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:2
label: Radiant Buddha
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: His bodily light permanently fills ten thousand worlds and replaces ordinary
celestial light.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: role:3
label: Buddha connected to former-life merit
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The passage connects his later radiance to a prayer and deeds performed as
a Bodhisatta.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: role:4
label: Arhat disciple group
assigned_to:
- fig:2
- fig:3
basis: Ānanda and his retinue hear the Teacher, attain Arhatship, receive robes
and bowls, and attend upon him.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:5
label: Gift-giving Bodhisatta
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: He gives his two children to the disguised brahmin-demon and feels joy that
the gift was well given.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:6
label: Self-sacrificing devotee
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: He declares that he ought to sacrifice his life for a Buddha and sets fire
to his body while circumambulating the relic shrine.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:7
label: Disguised demonic requester
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: Kharadāthika is named as a demon who approaches in the guise of a brahmin
and asks for the children.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:8
label: Given children
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: The children are requested, given up, and devoured in the former-life episode.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:9
label: Object of relic devotion
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: The Bodhisatta visits the Buddha’s relic shrine and dedicates a life-sacrificing
act to that Buddha.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: World-filling light
literal_form: Rays or bodily light filling ten thousand worlds
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: sym:2
label: Miraculous robes and bowls
literal_form: Monastic robes and bowls obtained by miraculous means
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:3
label: Mountain dwelling
literal_form: A mountain compared to Vanka mountain
associated_figures:
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs:
- mountain
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:4
label: Fire of self-offering
literal_form: Flames from the Bodhisatta’s body and the torch-like wrapping of his
body
associated_figures:
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: sym:5
label: Relic shrine
literal_form: The relic shrine of a Buddha circumambulated through the night
associated_figures:
- fig:4
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: sym:6
label: Golden vessel with thousand wicks
literal_form: A golden vessel filled with clarified butter and fitted with a thousand
wicks
associated_figures:
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: sym:7
label: Earthquake at the gift
literal_form: The ocean-girt earth quaking when the children are given
associated_figures:
- fig:4
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Third assembly of Mangala Buddha
summary: Prince Ānanda and his large retinue hear Mangala Buddha preach, attain
Arhatship, receive robes and bowls miraculously, and attend upon the Teacher.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Radiance filling ten thousand worlds
summary: Mangala Buddha’s bodily light fills ten thousand worlds, covers many things
with a golden appearance, and makes ordinary celestial light ineffective.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: scene:3
label: Gift of the children to the disguised demon
summary: In a former Bodhisatta existence on a mountain, Kharadāthika in brahmin
guise requests the Bodhisatta’s two children; the Bodhisatta gives them, the earth
quakes, the demon devours them, and the Bodhisatta rejoices in the gift and prays
for future rays of light.
figure_refs:
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:3
- sym:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: scene:4
label: Fiery circumambulation of the relic shrine
summary: In another former existence, the Bodhisatta declares his intent to sacrifice
his life for a Buddha, sets fire to his prepared body, circumambulates the relic
shrine all night, and remains unharmed.
figure_refs:
- fig:4
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
- sym:5
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: Miraculous ordination and monastic equipment
taxonomy_refs:
- initiation
basis: Ānanda and his retinue become priests after the Teacher’s summons and immediately
receive robes and bowls by miraculous means.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage frames this as Buddhist ordination and attainment rather than
a generic initiation narrative.
- id: motif:2
label: World-illuminating sacred body
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Mangala Buddha’s bodily light permanently fills ten thousand worlds and replaces
the light of sun, moon, and heavenly bodies.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
confidence: high
cautions: No supplied taxonomy family directly names bodily radiance or cosmic illumination.
- id: motif:3
label: Meritorious former-life deed producing later Buddha attribute
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_exchange
basis: The passage explicitly states that Mangala Buddha’s later radiance results
from a former-life prayer and deed.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
confidence: medium
cautions: The exchange is karmic and merit-based; the passage does not describe
a negotiated exchange with a deity.
- id: motif:4
label: Sacrificial gift of children
taxonomy_refs:
- sacrifice
- sacred_exchange
basis: The Bodhisatta gives his two children to a disguised demon, rejoices that
the gift was well given, and prays for future rays of light.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
confidence: high
cautions: The action is presented as a Bodhisatta’s generosity in the passage; interpretation
should not detach it from that doctrinal setting.
- id: motif:5
label: Self-sacrifice by fire with miraculous protection
taxonomy_refs:
- sacrifice
basis: The Bodhisatta sets fire to his body in devotion at a relic shrine, circumambulates
all night, and remains physically unharmed.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
confidence: high
cautions: The protection is explained by adherence to religion; no resurrection
or death-and-return episode is stated.
comparison_claims:
- id: claim:1
claim: The passage explicitly links the former-life mountain household and child-gift
episode with the Vessantara Jātaka by comparing the setting to Vanka mountain
and the existence to the Vessantara existence.
claim_level: same_motif
target: Vessantara Jātaka / Vanka mountain child-gift pattern
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: high
limitations: The passage gives only a brief internal comparison and does not recount
the full Vessantara Jātaka episode.
- id: claim:2
claim: The passage compares Mangala Buddha’s radiance with the bodily lustre of
other Buddhas, presenting a shared function of Buddha-radiance but an exceptional
permanent extent for Mangala.
claim_level: same_function
target: Other Buddhas’ bodily lustre in the same Buddhist narrative frame
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: high
limitations: The other Buddhas are not individually named in this comparison, and
the passage focuses on degree and permanence rather than separate narratives.
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 4365-4379
quote_or_summary: Mangala Buddha’s assemblies are described; prince Ānanda and his
retinue hear the Teacher, attain Arhatship, and receive robes and bowls miraculously
after the Teacher says, “Come, priests.”
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/buddhist/project-gutenberg/buddhist-birth-stories-volume-1-rhys-davids.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized with a short quotation.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 4380-4392
quote_or_summary: Mangala Buddha’s bodily light permanently fills ten thousand worlds,
gives objects a golden appearance, prevents sun and moon from shining by their
own light, and removes ordinary distinction between night and day.
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 4393-4398
quote_or_summary: The passage states that other Buddhas possess comparable power
at will, but Mangala Buddha’s permanent vast radiance results from a prayer made
in a former existence.
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 4399-4414
quote_or_summary: In a former Bodhisatta existence like the Vessantara existence,
he lives with wife and children on a mountain; the demon Kharadāthika comes disguised
as a brahmin, asks for the two children, receives them, devours them, and the
Bodhisatta rejoices and prays for future rays of light.
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 4415-4428
quote_or_summary: In another former existence, the Bodhisatta visits a Buddha’s
relic shrine, declares that he ought to sacrifice his life, wraps his body like
torches, lights a thousand wicks in clarified butter, sets fire to his body, circumambulates
all night, and remains unharmed.
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 4429-4434
quote_or_summary: The concluding verse states that religion protects one who follows
it rightly and that the righteous person does not go to a state of punishment.
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: medium
notes: Extraction is based only on the provided passage. Motif labels are candidate
analytical groupings and require human review, especially for taxonomy alignment.
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: |-
No external taxonomy IDs or comparisons were added beyond the supplied taxonomy list and comparisons directly supported by the passage.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:buddhist-jataka-birth-stories-rhys-davids-gutenberg__l4365-l4434
passage_sha256=4001285bb85f1e4538531235a41860c7d60bf6dc46a02e2cbf7ed7bb203caffc