batch.motif.buddhist-jataka-birth-stories-rhys-davids-gutenberg-l4783-l4873
---
record_id: batch.motif.buddhist-jataka-birth-stories-rhys-davids-gutenberg-l4783-l4873
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 4783-4873
start: '4783'
end: '4873'
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 lists several past Buddhas across distant world-cycles and
describes the Bodisat’s births as chiefs, kings, and a snake king. In each episode
the Bodisat performs offerings, donations, vows, study, preaching, or meditation
before a Buddha, and receives a prophecy of future Buddhahood. The passage also
records each Buddha’s city, family, chief disciples, Bo-tree, bodily stature,
radiance, assemblies, and lifespan.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Two Buddhas, Tissa and Phussa, are said to have been born in one kalpa ninety-two
world-cycles ago.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: obs:2
text: The Bodisat is described in multiple births as Sujāta, Vijitavī, Atula, Arindama,
and Sudassana.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: obs:3
text: In the Tissa episode, the Bodisat takes vows, acquires rishi powers, offers
heavenly flowers to the Buddha, spreads an awning of flowers in the sky, and receives
a prophecy of future Buddhahood.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:4
text: In the Phussa episode, the Bodisat lays aside his kingdom, takes vows under
the Teacher, learns the three Piṭakas, preaches the Law, fulfills the Perfection
of Morality, and receives a prophecy.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:5
text: In the Vipassin episode, the Bodisat is born as the snake king Atula and gives
the Buddha a golden chair inlaid with seven kinds of gems before receiving a prophecy.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:6
text: In the Sikhin episode, the Bodisat is born as king Arindama, gives robes and
other things to the Order with the Buddha at their head, offers an elephant decked
with seven gems, and receives a prophecy.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:7
text: In the Vessabhū episode, the Bodisat is born as king Sudassana, gives robes
and other things to the Order, takes vows, becomes righteous in conduct, meditates
on the Buddha, and receives a prophecy.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:8
text: Each Buddha listed in the passage is associated with a named Bo-tree.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: obs:9
text: The Buddhas are described with very large bodily heights, long lifespans,
and, in some cases, bodily effulgence reaching specified distances.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Tissa
description: A Blessed One and past Buddha who has three assemblies of saints and
prophesies the Bodisat’s future Buddhahood.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Phussa
description: A Teacher and past Buddha who has three assemblies and prophesies the
Bodisat’s future Buddhahood.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Vipassin
description: A Blessed One and past Buddha, called far-seeing in the verse, who
receives a jeweled chair from the Bodisat and prophesies his future Buddhahood.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Sikhin
description: A Supreme Buddha and Conqueror who receives donations from the Bodisat
and prophesies his future Buddhahood.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Vessabhū
description: A Teacher and Conqueror who receives donations from the Bodisat and
prophesies his future Buddhahood.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Bodisat as warrior-chief Sujāta
description: A wealthy and famous warrior-chief who takes vows, gains rishi powers,
offers heavenly flowers to Tissa, and receives a prophecy.
role_refs:
- role:2
- role:4
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Bodisat as warrior-chief Vijitavī
description: A warrior-chief who lays aside his kingdom, takes vows under Phussa,
learns the three Piṭakas, preaches the Law, and fulfills morality.
role_refs:
- role:2
- role:4
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Bodisat as snake king Atula
description: A mighty and powerful snake king who gives Vipassin a golden chair
inlaid with seven kinds of gems.
role_refs:
- role:2
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: Bodisat as king Arindama
description: A king who gives robes and other things to the Order and offers a superb
elephant decked with seven gems to Sikhin.
role_refs:
- role:2
- role:4
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: fig:10
name_or_label: Bodisat as king Sudassana
description: A king who gives robes and other things to the Order, takes vows, becomes
righteous in conduct, and meditates on Vessabhū.
role_refs:
- role:2
- role:4
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
roles:
- id: role:1
label: Past Buddha or Teacher
assigned_to:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
basis: The passage names these figures as Blessed Ones, Teachers, Supreme Buddhas,
or Conquerors appearing in distant world-cycles.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: role:2
label: Bodisat in a prior birth
assigned_to:
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:8
- fig:9
- fig:10
basis: Each figure is explicitly introduced as the Bodisat born in a particular
identity at the time of a past Buddha.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: role:3
label: Prophet of future Buddhahood
assigned_to:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
basis: Each Buddha gives or is said to give a prophecy that the Bodisat will become
a Buddha after a specified number of world-cycles.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: role:4
label: Royal or elite renouncer-donor
assigned_to:
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:9
- fig:10
basis: The Bodisat’s human identities in these episodes are warrior-chiefs or kings
who take vows or give donations.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: role:5
label: Offerer of extraordinary gifts
assigned_to:
- fig:6
- fig:9
basis: Sujāta offers heaven-grown flowers and a sky awning of flowers; Arindama
offers robes and a superb jeweled elephant.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
- id: role:6
label: Vowed practitioner and teacher of doctrine
assigned_to:
- fig:7
- fig:10
basis: Vijitavī takes vows, learns the three Piṭakas, preaches the Law, and fulfills
morality; Sudassana takes vows, becomes righteous, and meditates on the Buddha.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:5
- id: role:7
label: Serpent-form donor
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: Atula is called a mighty and powerful snake king who gives a jeweled golden
chair to Vipassin.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: Heaven-grown lotus and heavenly flowers
literal_form: Mandārava lotus and flowers of the Pāricchattaka-tree from Indra’s
heaven
associated_figures:
- fig:6
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:2
label: Awning of flowers in the sky
literal_form: A flower awning spread in the sky by the Bodisat
associated_figures:
- fig:6
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:3
label: Bo-trees of the past Buddhas
literal_form: Asana-tree, Āmalaka-tree, Pāṭali-tree, Puṇḍarīka-tree, and Sal-tree
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs:
- tree
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: sym:4
label: Golden jeweled chair
literal_form: A golden chair inlaid with the seven kinds of gems
associated_figures:
- fig:8
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:5
label: Snake king
literal_form: The Bodisat born as the mighty and powerful snake king Atula
associated_figures:
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs:
- serpent
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:6
label: Jeweled elephant
literal_form: A superb elephant decked with the seven gems and provided with all
suitable things
associated_figures:
- fig:9
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:7
label: Robes and donations to the Order
literal_form: Robes and other things given to the Order with the Buddha at their
head
associated_figures:
- fig:9
- fig:10
- fig:4
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Sujāta’s heavenly flower offering to Tissa
summary: The Bodisat as warrior-chief Sujāta takes vows, gains rishi powers, offers
a heavenly lotus and flowers to Tissa, makes a flower awning in the sky, and receives
a prophecy of future Buddhahood.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Vijitavī’s renunciation and instruction under Phussa
summary: The Bodisat as warrior-chief Vijitavī lays aside his kingdom, takes vows
under Phussa, learns the three Piṭakas, preaches the Law, fulfills morality, and
receives a prophecy.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: scene:3
label: Atula’s jeweled chair offering to Vipassin
summary: The Bodisat as snake king Atula gives Vipassin a golden chair set with
seven kinds of gems and receives a prophecy of future Buddhahood.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:8
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
- sym:4
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: scene:4
label: Arindama’s donation and jeweled elephant offering to Sikhin
summary: The Bodisat as king Arindama gives robes and other things to the Order
with Sikhin at their head, offers a superb elephant decked with seven gems, and
receives a prophecy.
figure_refs:
- fig:4
- fig:9
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
- sym:6
- sym:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: scene:5
label: Sudassana’s donation, vows, and meditation before Vessabhū
summary: The Bodisat as king Sudassana gives robes and other things to the Order,
takes vows under Vessabhū, becomes righteous in conduct, meditates on the Buddha,
and receives a prophecy.
figure_refs:
- fig:5
- fig:10
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
- sym:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: Prophecy of future Buddhahood after a meritorious encounter
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Across all five episodes, the Bodisat encounters a past Buddha, performs
offerings, renunciation, study, donation, or meditation, and receives a prediction
that he will become a Buddha in a future world-cycle.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
confidence: high
cautions: The passage presents the sequence repeatedly, but the taxonomy list does
not contain a direct named category for Buddhist prediction of future Buddhahood.
- id: motif:2
label: Sacred gift before a Buddha
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_exchange
basis: The Bodisat offers heavenly flowers, a jeweled chair, robes, a jeweled elephant,
or other gifts to a Buddha or to the Order with the Buddha at their head, followed
by prophetic recognition.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage does not explicitly frame the prophecy as a payment or exchange
for the gifts; the taxonomy reference is therefore approximate.
- id: motif:3
label: Royal renunciation and vows
taxonomy_refs:
- departure
- initiation
basis: The Bodisat appears as royal or warrior figures who lay aside a kingdom or
take vows under a Buddha, combining elite status with religious commitment.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:5
confidence: medium
cautions: Only some episodes explicitly include renunciation or vows; other episodes
emphasize donation.
- id: motif:4
label: Buddha associated with a specific Bo-tree
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_tree_axis
basis: 'Each Buddha’s biographical entry names a specific Bo-tree: Asana, Āmalaka,
Pāṭali, Puṇḍarīka, or Sal.'
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage lists the Bo-trees but does not narrate events at the trees
in this excerpt.
- id: motif:5
label: Serpent king as donor to a Buddha
taxonomy_refs:
- serpent
basis: The Bodisat is born as the mighty and powerful snake king Atula and gives
Vipassin a golden chair inlaid with seven kinds of gems.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
confidence: high
cautions: This motif is limited to a single episode in the passage.
- id: motif:6
label: Instruction, doctrine, and moral perfection
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
basis: In the Phussa episode the Bodisat learns the three Piṭakas, preaches the
Law to the people, and fulfills the Perfection of Morality; in the Vessabhū episode
he becomes righteous and meditates on the Buddha.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:5
confidence: medium
cautions: The taxonomy reference is broad; the passage’s emphasis is specifically
Buddhist learning, preaching, morality, and meditation.
comparison_claims:
- id: claim:1
claim: 'The five episodes share a repeated internal pattern: the Bodisat appears
in a prior birth, performs a religiously significant act before a past Buddha,
and receives a prophecy of future Buddhahood.'
claim_level: same_function
target: Bodisat encounters with Tissa, Phussa, Vipassin, Sikhin, and Vessabhū within
this passage
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: high
limitations: This is an internal comparison within the excerpt, not a claim about
historical contact or broader cross-cultural diffusion.
- id: claim:2
claim: The episodes of Sujāta, Atula, Arindama, and Sudassana use gifts or donations
to mark the Bodisat’s encounter with a Buddha, though the gifts differ in form.
claim_level: same_function
target: Gift episodes involving heavenly flowers, a jeweled chair, robes, a jeweled
elephant, and donations to the Order
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
counter_evidence_refs:
- ev:2
confidence: medium
limitations: The Phussa episode centers more on renunciation, study, preaching,
and morality than on a material gift.
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 4783-4802
quote_or_summary: Tissa appears ninety-two world-cycles ago. The Bodisat is born
as warrior-chief Sujāta, takes vows, gains rishi powers, offers a heaven-grown
lotus and Pāricchattaka flowers to Tissa, spreads a flower awning in the sky,
and receives a prophecy that he will become a Buddha. Tissa’s city, family, disciples,
Asana Bo-tree, height, and lifespan are listed.
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 4804-4822
quote_or_summary: Phussa appears in the same Maṇḍakalpa. The Bodisat is born as
warrior-chief Vijitavī, lays aside his kingdom, takes vows under the Teacher,
learns the three Piṭakas, preaches the Law, fulfills the Perfection of Morality,
and receives a prophecy. Phussa’s city, family, disciples, Āmalaka Bo-tree, height,
and lifespan are listed.
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 4824-4842
quote_or_summary: Vipassin appears ninety world-cycles ago. The Bodisat is born
as the mighty snake king Atula and gives Vipassin a golden chair inlaid with seven
kinds of gems; Vipassin prophesies that he will become a Buddha. Vipassin’s city,
family, disciples, Pāṭali Bo-tree, height, bodily radiance, and lifespan are listed.
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 4844-4859
quote_or_summary: Sikhin appears thirty-one world-cycles ago. The Bodisat is born
as king Arindama, gives robes and other things to the Order with the Buddha at
their head, offers a superb elephant decked with seven gems, and receives a prophecy.
Sikhin’s city, family, disciples, Puṇḍarīka Bo-tree, height, bodily radiance,
and lifespan are listed.
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 4861-4873
quote_or_summary: Vessabhū appears after Sikhin. The Bodisat is born as king Sudassana,
gives robes and other things to the Order with the Buddha at their head, takes
vows, becomes righteous in conduct, meditates on the Buddha, and receives a prophecy.
Vessabhū’s city, family, disciples, Sal Bo-tree, height, and lifespan are listed.
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 supplied passage. Motif taxonomy assignments
are cautious where the available taxonomy does not exactly match Buddhist technical
motifs such as vyākaraṇa, the prophecy of future Buddhahood.
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 comparisons or unprovided taxonomy identifiers were added.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:buddhist-jataka-birth-stories-rhys-davids-gutenberg__l4783-l4873
passage_sha256=5aef606a7fef616df372a1abda527c9ad8ea3dccff9d270182215428fa9e6ffb