batch.motif.buddhist-jataka-birth-stories-rhys-davids-gutenberg-l6361-l6475
---
record_id: batch.motif.buddhist-jataka-birth-stories-rhys-davids-gutenberg-l6361-l6475
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 6361-6475
start: '6361'
end: '6475'
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: Māra and his host attack Siddhattha from behind while the gods have fled.
Siddhattha remains alone and relies on the Ten Perfections as his defense. Māra
sends wind, rain, rocks, weapons, charcoal, ashes, sand, mud, and darkness, but
each assault fails or is transformed into harmless or auspicious substances. Māra
then claims Siddhattha's seat, but Siddhattha says the seat belongs to the one
who has perfected virtues, self-renunciation, knowledge, salvation, and wisdom.
Māra's wheel-barbed sceptre-javelin becomes a garland-canopy, and further rocks
become bouquets. Māra calls his host as witnesses to his alms; Siddhattha, having
no living witness, calls the solid earth to witness the great alms given in his
birth as Wessantara.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Māra tells his host that they cannot give Siddhattha battle face to face and
should attack him from behind.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Siddhattha sees that the gods have fled and that he is alone without family
or relatives to help him.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: Siddhattha resolves to make the ten cardinal virtues his shield and to strike
Māra's host with the sword of virtue.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:4
text: Māra sends a whirlwind and then a great rain and flood, but neither can disturb
or wet Siddhattha's robe.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:5
text: Māra sends storms of rocks, weapons, charcoal, ashes, sand, and mud; these
become flowers, sandalwood dust, or heavenly perfume near Siddhattha.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:6
text: Māra sends thick fourfold darkness, but it disappears when it reaches the
future Buddha.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:7
text: 'The passage enumerates nine failed assaults: wind, rain, rocks, weapons,
charcoal, ashes, sand, mud, and darkness.'
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:8
text: Māra mounts the Mountain-girded and tells Siddhattha to rise from the seat,
claiming it belongs to Māra.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:9
text: Siddhattha answers that Māra has not perfected the virtues or performed the
acts of self-renunciation and that the seat belongs to Siddhattha.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:10
text: Māra casts a wheel-barbed sceptre-javelin at Siddhattha, and it becomes a
garland of flowers remaining as a canopy over him.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:11
text: Māra's host hurls huge rocks at Siddhattha, and they fall as bouquets at his
feet.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:12
text: Māra calls his followers as witnesses that he has given alms, and they shout
that they are his witnesses.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:13
text: Siddhattha says he has no living witness there and calls the great solid earth
to witness the seven hundredfold great alms he gave as Wessantara.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Siddhattha / the Great Being / the future Buddha
description: The son of Suddhodana, seated at the enlightenment seat, alone against
Māra's host, meditating on the Ten Perfections and claiming the seat through perfected
virtues and past almsgiving.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:8
- ev:9
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Māra / the angel / the Wicked One / the Tempter
description: Leader of the hostile host who attacks Siddhattha with storms, weapons,
darkness, a sceptre-javelin, and a claim to the seat.
role_refs:
- role:3
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Māra's host / hosts of the Evil One
description: The followers of Māra who approach Siddhattha, are called to seize
or slay him, shout as Māra's witnesses, and hurl rocks.
role_refs:
- role:5
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:5
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: gods / angels
description: Divine beings who initially flee from Siddhattha's side; later angels
stand at the edge of the world-encircling rocks and look on in amazement and fear
for Siddhattha.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:7
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Mountain-girded
description: The being or mount on whose back Māra is seated when he approaches
Siddhattha.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: great solid earth
description: The unconscious earth invoked by Siddhattha as witness of his former
almsgiving as Wessantara.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Wessantara
description: A prior birth named by Siddhattha in connection with the seven hundredfold
great alms.
role_refs:
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
roles:
- id: role:1
label: solitary assaulted ascetic or Buddha-to-be
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Siddhattha is alone after the gods flee and faces the entire host of Māra.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:2
label: claimant to the enlightenment seat
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Siddhattha states that the seat belongs to him because of perfected virtues,
self-renunciation, knowledge, salvation, and wisdom.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:9
- id: role:3
label: adversarial tempter
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Māra tries to drive Siddhattha away through assaults and then challenges
his right to the seat.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: role:4
label: rival claimant to the seat
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Māra tells Siddhattha to rise because the seat is meant for Māra.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:5
label: attacking host
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Māra's host comes against Siddhattha and is ordered to seize, slay, or drive
him away.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:5
- id: role:6
label: witnesses for Māra
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: The hosts of the Evil One shout that they are Māra's witnesses.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: role:7
label: divine onlookers
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Gods flee from the scene; later angels look on from the world-encircling
rocks and fear Siddhattha is lost.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:7
- id: role:8
label: mount of Māra
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: Māra is described as mounted on the Mountain-girded and seated on its back.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:9
label: non-living witness invoked by Siddhattha
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: Siddhattha calls the great solid earth, though unconscious, to be witness
of his alms.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: role:10
label: past birth associated with almsgiving
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: Siddhattha refers to the alms he gave when born as Wessantara.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: Ten Perfections as shield and sword
literal_form: The ten cardinal virtues imagined as retainers, shield, and sword
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:2
label: wind assault
literal_form: Whirlwind from the four corners of the earth
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: sym:3
label: water assault
literal_form: Mighty rain and flood overtopping forest trees
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: sym:4
label: fiery rocks and weapons transformed
literal_form: Mountain peaks, swords, spears, arrows, charcoal, ashes, sand, and
mud arriving with fire, smoke, or heat and becoming flowers, sandalwood dust,
or perfume
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
- mountain
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:5
label: darkness dispelled
literal_form: Fourfold thick darkness disappearing before the future Buddha
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:6
label: seat or throne of Buddhas-to-be
literal_form: The seat claimed by Māra and Siddhattha, described as the throne of
Buddhas-to-be on the day of Enlightenment
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:9
- id: sym:7
label: wheel-barbed sceptre-javelin
literal_form: Māra's sceptre-javelin with a barb shaped like a wheel
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: sym:8
label: garland-canopy
literal_form: The sceptre-javelin transformed into a garland of flowers remaining
as a canopy over Siddhattha
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: sym:9
label: earth witness
literal_form: The great solid earth called to witness Siddhattha's almsgiving as
Wessantara
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:6
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Māra plans a rear attack
summary: Māra says Siddhattha cannot be confronted face to face and directs his
host to attack from behind; Siddhattha sees he is alone and turns to the Ten Perfections
as his defense.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Elemental and material assaults fail
summary: Māra sends wind, water, rocks, weapons, embers, ashes, sand, mud, and darkness
against Siddhattha, but the attacks fail to harm him and many are transformed
into flowers or fragrant substances.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
- sym:3
- sym:4
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: scene:3
label: Contest over the seat
summary: Māra mounts Mountain-girded, commands the host, and tells Siddhattha to
leave the seat. Siddhattha replies that the seat belongs to him because of perfected
virtues and salvific striving.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:9
- id: scene:4
label: Weapon transformed into canopy
summary: Māra throws his wheel-barbed sceptre-javelin, which becomes a garland-canopy
over Siddhattha; further rocks thrown by the host become bouquets at his feet
while angels watch anxiously.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:7
- sym:8
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: scene:5
label: Witnesses invoked
summary: Māra calls his host as witnesses to his almsgiving. Siddhattha, lacking
living witnesses, calls the unconscious earth to witness his great alms in the
birth as Wessantara.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:6
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: Demonic assault overcome by perfected virtue
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
- initiation
basis: Māra attacks Siddhattha with hosts, elements, weapons, and darkness, but
Siddhattha remains seated and relies on perfected virtues.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
confidence: high
cautions: The passage frames this as a Buddhist enlightenment confrontation; broader
motif-family assignment should be reviewed.
- id: motif:2
label: Harmful missiles transformed into flowers
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Rocks, weapons, charcoal, sand, mud, and the sceptre-javelin become flowers,
bouquets, perfume, sandalwood dust, or a garland-canopy near Siddhattha.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:7
confidence: high
cautions: No supplied taxonomy family directly names this transformation pattern.
- id: motif:3
label: Contest for a sacred seat or throne
taxonomy_refs:
- royal_legitimacy
- wisdom
basis: Māra claims the seat is meant for him; Siddhattha says it belongs to the
one who has perfected virtues and is at the throne of Buddhas-to-be on the day
of Enlightenment.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:9
confidence: medium
cautions: Royal legitimacy is only analogically relevant; the passage emphasizes
enlightenment and virtue rather than kingship.
- id: motif:4
label: Earth called as witness to prior merit
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_exchange
- sacrifice
basis: Siddhattha invokes the great solid earth as witness of the seven hundredfold
great alms given in his Wessantara birth after Māra calls living followers as
witnesses.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
confidence: high
cautions: The passage ends at the invocation and does not include the earth's response
within this excerpt.
- id: motif:5
label: Past self-renunciation and almsgiving validate present spiritual attainment
taxonomy_refs:
- sacrifice
- wisdom
basis: Siddhattha grounds his claim to the seat in perfected virtues, great acts
of self-renunciation, seeking knowledge and salvation, and alms in the Wessantara
birth.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:8
confidence: high
cautions: The motif is specific to the passage's karmic and Buddhist framework.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: 6361-6375
quote_or_summary: Māra tells his host to attack Siddhattha from behind; Siddhattha
sees the gods have fled, notes he has no relatives to help him, and resolves to
use the ten cardinal virtues as shield and sword while meditating on the Ten Perfections.
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: 6376-6392
quote_or_summary: Māra sends a destructive whirlwind and then a mighty rain and
flood, but through the Great Being's goodness the wind cannot shake his robe and
the flood cannot wet even a dew-drop-sized place on it.
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: 6393-6418
quote_or_summary: Māra sends storms of rocks, weapons, charcoal, ashes, sand, and
mud; these come with smoke, flame, or heat but become heavenly flowers, sandalwood
dust, or heavenly perfume at the future Buddha's feet.
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: 6419-6428
quote_or_summary: 'Māra brings fourfold darkness to terrify Siddhattha, but it vanishes
before the future Buddha; the passage lists nine failed assaults: wind, rain,
rocks, weapons, charcoal, ashes, sand, mud, and darkness.'
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: 6429-6436
quote_or_summary: Māra commands his host to seize, slay, or drive away the prince,
mounts the Mountain-girded, approaches the future Buddha, and tells Siddhattha
to get up from the seat because it is meant for Māra.
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: 6437-6446
quote_or_summary: The Great Being tells Māra that Māra has not perfected the cardinal,
lesser, or higher virtues, nor sacrificed himself in the five great acts of self-renunciation,
nor sought knowledge, the salvation of the world, and wisdom; therefore the seat
belongs to Siddhattha.
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:7
type: summary
locator: 6447-6461
quote_or_summary: Māra throws his wheel-barbed sceptre-javelin at the Great Being,
but it becomes a garland-canopy over him. Māra's host throws huge rocks, but they
fall as bouquets at his feet, while angels watch from the world-encircling rocks
and fear for Siddhattha.
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:8
type: summary
locator: 6462-6475
quote_or_summary: Siddhattha declares he has reached the throne of Buddhas-to-be
on the day of Enlightenment. Māra calls his followers as witnesses to his almsgiving,
and they shout agreement. Siddhattha says he has no living witness and calls the
great solid earth to witness the seven hundredfold great alms he gave as Wessantara.
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:9
type: quote
locator: 6462-6464
quote_or_summary: '"I have reached the throne on which sit the Buddhas-to-be when
they are perfect in all goodness, on that day when they shall reach Enlightenment."'
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/buddhist/project-gutenberg/buddhist-birth-stories-volume-1-rhys-davids.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short quotation.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: high
notes: Extraction uses only the supplied passage. Motif family mappings are cautious
because the supplied taxonomy does not include exact labels for Māra's assault
or earth-witness motifs. No comparison claims were added because the passage itself
does not compare this episode with another tradition or corpus.
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: |-
Line locators for evidence are approximate subdivisions within the supplied stable line range.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:buddhist-jataka-birth-stories-rhys-davids-gutenberg__l6361-l6475
passage_sha256=5a00bc17643c9229e12c2996496b1509fe9f7f5867b3ef1b91712c2cd5a4f189