batch.motif.buddhist-jataka-birth-stories-rhys-davids-gutenberg-l6259-l6359
---
record_id: batch.motif.buddhist-jataka-birth-stories-rhys-davids-gutenberg-l6259-l6359
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 6259-6359
start: '6259'
end: '6359'
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: After eating milk-rice, the Bodisat casts a golden vessel into the river
as a sign of whether he will become a Buddha; it moves upstream and reaches the
palace of the Black Snake King, where it joins bowls of previous Buddhas. The
Bodisat goes to the Tree of Wisdom, receives grass from Sotthiya, circles the
Bo-tree seeking the stable place of awakening, prepares a grass seat, vows not
to rise until complete insight is attained, and sits immovably. Māra raises a
vast armed host to stop him; divine beings praise the Bodisat but flee when Māra’s
army surrounds the seat, leaving the Great Being alone.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: The Bodisat throws a golden vessel into the water after declaring that it
should go upstream if he is able to become a Buddha that day.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: The golden vessel moves upstream, dives into a whirlpool, reaches the palace
of Kāḷa Nāgarāja, strikes bowls associated with three previous Buddhas, and remains
below them.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: Kāḷa Nāgarāja hears the noise, says another Buddha has arisen, and praises
him in many stanzas.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:4
text: The Bodisat proceeds toward the Tree of Wisdom along a path decked by the
gods while superhuman beings offer flowers and sing.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:5
text: Sotthiya, a grass-cutter, recognizes the Great Being and gives him eight bundles
of grass.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:6
text: The Bodisat stands at different sides of the Bo-tree, and at several positions
the horizons seem to rise and fall between hell and heaven.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:7
text: The eastern place is described as the place where all Buddhas have sat cross-legged
and as a place that neither trembles nor shakes.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:8
text: The grass scattered by the Bodisat immediately arranges itself into a fourteen-cubit
seat.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:9
text: The Bodisat vows not to leave the seat until attaining complete insight and
sits cross-legged, firm and immovable.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:10
text: Māra says that Siddhattha wants to free himself from his dominion and leads
forth the army of Satan.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:11
text: Māra mounts a huge elephant, creates a thousand arms, takes many weapons,
and advances with an army of varied forms and weapons.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:12
text: Sakka, the Great Black One, and Mahā Brahma praise or honor the Great Being,
but they and other deities flee when Māra’s army approaches, leaving the Great
Being alone.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: The Bodisat / Great Being / Siddhattha
description: The central ascetic figure who tests the omen with the vessel, goes
to the Tree of Wisdom, makes the immovable resolve, and sits beneath the Bo-tree.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Kāḷa Nāgarāja / Black Snake King
description: Snake king whose palace receives the golden vessel; he recognizes the
sign and praises the arising Buddha.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Sotthiya
description: A grass-cutter carrying grass who recognizes the Great Being and gives
him eight bundles of grass.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Māra
description: An angel who seeks to prevent Siddhattha from freeing himself from
his dominion and leads an enormous armed host.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Army of Māra
description: A vast host with varied weapons, colours, and forms, advancing to overwhelm
the Great Being.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Sakka, king of the angels
description: A divine figure who stands blowing the Vijayuttara trumpet before fleeing
to the rocky verge of the world.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Mahā Brahma
description: A divine figure who holds the white canopy of state over the Great
Being before departing to the world of Brahma.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Superhuman beings
description: Snakes, Genii, Winged Creatures, and other beings who offer heavenly
flowers and songs as the Bodisat approaches the Tree of Wisdom.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
roles:
- id: role:1
label: awakening seeker
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The figure seeks Buddhahood and resolves to remain seated until complete
insight is attained.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:2
label: solitary steadfast figure
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: After the divine beings flee, the Great Being remains seated alone beneath
the Bo-tree.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: role:3
label: nāga witness and praiser
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: The snake king hears the vessel strike the bowls of previous Buddhas, interprets
it as a Buddha arising, and praises him.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:4
label: grass donor
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Sotthiya gives the Great Being eight bundles of grass used at the awakening
seat.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: role:5
label: obstructing antagonist
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Māra intends to prevent Siddhattha from leaving his dominion and summons
an army.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:6
label: hostile army
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: The army advances with weapons and surrounds the seat beneath the Bo-tree.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: role:7
label: divine supporter
assigned_to:
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:8
basis: These beings praise, adorn, or honor the Great Being before Māra’s army arrives.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:6
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: golden vessel omen
literal_form: golden vessel cast into the river
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:2
label: upstream water sign
literal_form: river water and current overcome by the vessel moving upstream
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:3
label: snake king and nāga palace
literal_form: Kāḷa Nāgarāja and his underwater palace
associated_figures:
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs:
- serpent
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:4
label: bowls of previous Buddhas
literal_form: bowls from which three previous Buddhas had eaten
associated_figures:
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:5
label: Tree of Wisdom / Bo-tree
literal_form: Tree of Wisdom and Bo-tree at the place of sitting
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs:
- tree
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: sym:6
label: eight bundles of grass
literal_form: eight bundles of grass given by Sotthiya
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: sym:7
label: steadfast grass seat
literal_form: fourteen-cubit seat formed from scattered grass
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:8
label: white canopy of state
literal_form: white canopy held by Mahā Brahma
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: sym:9
label: war elephant and weapons of Māra
literal_form: Māra’s immense elephant, thousand arms, and weapons
associated_figures:
- fig:4
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs:
- mountain
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: The vessel omen in the river
summary: The Bodisat casts the golden vessel into the river; it moves upstream,
reaches the Black Snake King’s palace, and joins the bowls of previous Buddhas.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
- sym:3
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Procession toward the Tree of Wisdom
summary: The Bodisat moves toward the Tree of Wisdom while gods and other superhuman
beings adorn the path, offer flowers, and sing.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:8
symbol_refs:
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: scene:3
label: Grass gift and search for the stable spot
summary: Sotthiya gives grass to the Great Being, who circles the Bo-tree and rejects
unstable positions marked by cosmic rising and falling of the horizons.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:5
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: scene:4
label: Formation of the seat and immovable vow
summary: At the eastern place chosen by all Buddhas, the grass becomes a seat; the
Bodisat vows not to rise until complete insight is attained and sits immovably.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
symbol_refs:
- sym:5
- sym:6
- sym:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: scene:5
label: Māra’s assault and divine flight
summary: Māra summons and leads his huge armed host. Divine supporters praise the
Great Being but flee as the army surrounds the Bo-tree seat, leaving him alone.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:5
- sym:8
- sym:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: omen confirming destined awakening
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
basis: The golden vessel is explicitly cast as a test of whether the Bodisat will
become a Buddha that day, and its upstream motion is followed by recognition from
the snake king.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
confidence: high
cautions: The passage gives the omen internally; no wider comparative identification
is asserted.
- id: motif:2
label: sacred tree as awakening place
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_tree_axis
- wisdom
basis: The Bodisat proceeds to the Tree of Wisdom and sits at the Bo-tree at the
place where all Buddhas sit for attaining Buddhahood.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:4
confidence: high
cautions: The tree is a literal setting and symbol in the passage; broader axis-mundi
interpretation should be reviewed.
- id: motif:3
label: cosmic instability around the chosen sacred spot
taxonomy_refs:
- world_center
basis: As the Bodisat tests positions around the Bo-tree, horizons appear to descend
below hell or rise above heaven, while the eastern place is stable and unshaken.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
confidence: medium
cautions: The taxonomy link to world center is interpretive and should be checked
by a reviewer.
- id: motif:4
label: immovable vow before enlightenment
taxonomy_refs:
- initiation
- wisdom
basis: The Bodisat vows that his body may dry up but that he will not leave the
seat until attaining complete insight.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
confidence: high
cautions: The passage states the vow directly; classification as initiation is a
motif-level abstraction.
- id: motif:5
label: tempting or obstructing adversary before liberation
taxonomy_refs:
- initiation
basis: Māra seeks to keep Siddhattha from freeing himself from his dominion and
deploys a vast army to overwhelm him as he sits beneath the Bo-tree.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
confidence: high
cautions: The passage presents hostile obstruction, not temptation in the quoted
section.
- id: motif:6
label: heroic solitude after divine supporters withdraw
taxonomy_refs:
- initiation
basis: Divine beings praise and honor the Great Being, but when Māra’s army arrives
they flee, leaving him alone.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
confidence: medium
cautions: The motif label is descriptive and should not be overextended beyond this
passage.
comparison_claims:
- id: claim:1
claim: The passage presents the Bodisat’s vessel and sitting place as repeating
a pattern associated with previous or all Buddhas within the narrative itself.
claim_level: same_function
target: previous Buddhas and all Buddhas mentioned in the passage
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: medium
limitations: This is an internal textual comparison only; it does not establish
historical contact or comparison outside the passage.
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 6259-6271
quote_or_summary: After eating milk-rice, the Bodisat casts a golden vessel into
the river as an omen; it moves upstream, reaches Kāḷa Nāgarāja’s palace, strikes
bowls of three previous Buddhas, and the snake king praises the new Buddha.
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 6272-6281
quote_or_summary: The Bodisat spends the day in a sāla grove and proceeds toward
the Tree of Wisdom along a divinely adorned path, while superhuman beings offer
flowers and heavenly songs.
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 6282-6305
quote_or_summary: Sotthiya gives the Great Being eight bundles of grass; the Bodisat
ascends the ground around the Bo-tree and tests southern, western, and northern
positions as horizons appear to rise and fall between hell and heaven.
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 6306-6323
quote_or_summary: The eastern place is identified as where all Buddhas sit cross-legged
and as unshaken; the grass forms a fourteen-cubit seat, and the Bodisat vows not
to leave until complete insight is attained.
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 6324-6342
quote_or_summary: Māra declares he will not let Siddhattha free himself, sounds
the war-cry, leads a vast army, mounts an immense elephant, creates a thousand
arms, and takes weapons.
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 6343-6359
quote_or_summary: Angels of many world-systems praise the Great Being; Sakka, the
Nāga king, and Mahā Brahma honor him, but all deities flee when Māra’s army surrounds
the Bo-tree seat, leaving the Great Being alone.
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: Literal extraction is well supported by the supplied passage. Motif taxonomy
assignments are conservative but still interpretive and require human review.
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. No external comparisons added.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:buddhist-jataka-birth-stories-rhys-davids-gutenberg__l6259-l6359
passage_sha256=ff79ff47cc068f7fabc8b21fe56b1ab302aaca8031e21deb17fcffb6d7ce1900