batch.motif.buddhist-jataka-birth-stories-rhys-davids-gutenberg-l6477-l6591
---
record_id: batch.motif.buddhist-jataka-birth-stories-rhys-davids-gutenberg-l6477-l6591
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 6477-6591
start: '6477'
end: '6591'
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 Bodhisattva calls the Earth to witness his former generosity as Wessantara;
the Earth answers, Māra's army flees, and celestial beings rejoice at the Bo-tree.
During the night he gains successive knowledges, realizes causation, and at dawn
attains complete enlightenment amid cosmic wonders. He sings a triumph hymn about
the end of craving and rebirth, then remains seated on the throne of triumph,
reflecting on former sacrifices and the bliss of Nirvāna.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: The Great Being stretches his right hand toward the earth and asks whether
it witnesses the great gift he gave in his birth as Wessantara.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: The great Earth answers aloud that it is witness for him.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: The elephant called “Girded with mountains” kneels before the Great Being,
and Māra's army flees in disorder.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: Heavenly hosts, including Nāgas, Winged Creatures, Angels, Archangels, Brahma
Gods, and other gods, celebrate the defeat of the Tempter at the Bo-tree's foot.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:5
text: The Great Being acquires knowledge of the past, knowledge of the present,
and knowledge of the chain of causation during the watches of the night.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:6
text: When he realizes the twelvefold chain of causation, ten thousand world-systems
quake twelve times.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:7
text: At break of day he attains complete Enlightenment, and the ten thousand world-systems
become festive and glorious.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:8
text: The passage describes flowers, fruit, banners, lotus wreaths, light in dark
hells, sweetened ocean waters, halted rivers, restored senses and limbs, and loosened
bonds.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:9
text: The Hymn of Triumph speaks of wandering through many births, discovering the
cause of individuality, breaking the house, passing into Nirvāna, and ending craving.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:10
text: After the hymn, the Blessed One reflects that he underwent many births and
gave away his head, eyes, heart's flesh, sons, daughters, and wives in order to
attain this throne of triumph.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:11
text: The Blessed One remains seated motionless for seven days, realizing the bliss
of Nirvāna.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: The Great Being / Siddhattha the Prince / the Blessed One
description: The central figure who calls the Earth to witness, overcomes Māra,
attains complete Enlightenment and Omniscience, sings the Hymn of Triumph, and
remains seated in bliss.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: The great Earth
description: A speaking witness who confirms the Great Being's former gift as Wessantara.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Māra / the Evil One / the Tempter and his army
description: The opposing force whose hosts are overwhelmed and whose army flees
after the Earth's witness.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Elephant “Girded with mountains”
description: A mighty elephant who realizes Wessantara's generosity and falls on
his knees before the Great Being.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Celestial celebrants
description: Nāgas, Winged Creatures, Angels, Archangels, Brahma Gods, and other
gods who rejoice, offer garlands and perfumes, and praise the victor.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
roles:
- id: role:1
label: Victor and enlightened one
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The passage states that Siddhattha prevails over the Tempter and later attains
complete Enlightenment and Omniscience.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: role:2
label: Witness
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: The Earth directly answers that it is witness to the Great Being's former
gift.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:3
label: Defeated adversary
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Māra is called the Evil One or Tempter, and his army flees after the Earth's
declaration.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: role:4
label: Reverent celebrant
assigned_to:
- fig:4
- fig:5
basis: The elephant kneels before the Great Being, and celestial beings rejoice
and honor him.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: role:5
label: Former-birth giver
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The Blessed One recalls former births in which he gave away body parts and
family members in order to attain the throne of triumph.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: Earth as witness
literal_form: The great Earth that speaks in response to the hand extended toward
it
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:2
label: Bo-tree
literal_form: The tree at whose foot the victory is celebrated and under which Enlightenment
is attained
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs:
- tree
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: sym:3
label: Ten thousand world-systems
literal_form: The cosmic field that quakes, rejoices, and becomes glorious at Enlightenment
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: sym:4
label: Light in the dark voids and hells
literal_form: Dark regions filled with light after Enlightenment
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: sym:5
label: Sweetened waters and halted rivers
literal_form: The Great Ocean becomes sweet and rivers are stayed in their course
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: sym:6
label: Loosened chains and bonds
literal_form: Chains and bonds are loosed and fall away
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: sym:7
label: Throne of triumph
literal_form: The seat on which the Blessed One remains after attaining his aim
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: sym:8
label: Broken house image
literal_form: In the hymn, the beams are broken and the ridge-pole shattered
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Earth witness and rout of Māra
summary: The Great Being calls the Earth to witness his former gift; the Earth confirms
it, the elephant kneels, and Māra's army flees.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: scene:2
label: Celestial celebration at the Bo-tree
summary: After Māra's defeat, heavenly beings gather at the Bo-tree's foot, proclaim
the Buddha's victory, and offer praises and gifts.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: scene:3
label: Night watches and Enlightenment
summary: During the night the Great Being gains successive knowledges, realizes
the chain of causation, and attains complete Enlightenment at dawn.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: scene:4
label: Cosmic wonders at Enlightenment
summary: The world-systems quake and become radiant; trees bloom, flowers appear,
waters change, beings are healed, and bonds are loosed.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
- sym:4
- sym:5
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: scene:5
label: Hymn of Triumph
summary: The newly awakened figure sings of long wandering through births, discovery
of the cause, destruction of the house, Nirvāna, and the end of craving.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
symbol_refs:
- sym:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: scene:6
label: Seven-day seated bliss
summary: The Blessed One reflects on former-birth sacrifices made to attain the
throne of triumph and remains seated motionless for seven days in the bliss of
Nirvāna.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
symbol_refs:
- sym:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: Earth witness vindicates the hero against an adversary
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The Great Being touches or gestures toward the earth, asks it to witness
his former gift, and the Earth's answer contributes to the rout of Māra's host.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
confidence: high
cautions: No taxonomy reference in the supplied list exactly names the earth-witness
motif.
- id: motif:2
label: Enlightenment as supreme wisdom
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
basis: The passage centers on the acquisition of special knowledges, realization
of causation, Omniscience, and complete Enlightenment.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
confidence: high
cautions: The taxonomy label is broad; the passage concerns Buddhist awakening specifically.
- id: motif:3
label: Sacred tree as site of victory and awakening
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_tree_axis
basis: The Bo-tree's foot is the place where celestial beings celebrate the Buddha's
victory and where the Great Being attains knowledge and Enlightenment.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage identifies the tree as the sacred site of awakening, but does
not explicitly describe it as an axis or world-center.
- id: motif:4
label: Release from repeated birth and death
taxonomy_refs:
- death_rebirth
basis: The hymn describes wandering through many births and pain leading to birth
again, then declares Nirvāna and the end of craving.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
confidence: medium
cautions: The motif is not a simple death-and-rebirth episode; it is the cessation
of rebirth.
- id: motif:5
label: Self-giving sacrifice across former births
taxonomy_refs:
- sacrifice
basis: The Blessed One recalls giving away his head, eyes, heart's flesh, sons,
daughters, and wives in former births to attain the throne of triumph.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
confidence: high
cautions: The passage summarizes prior acts rather than narrating each sacrifice
in full.
- id: motif:6
label: Cosmic rejoicing and transformation at enlightenment
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: At Enlightenment the world-systems quake, become glorious, fill with banners,
flowers, light, sweet waters, healings, and loosened bonds.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
confidence: high
cautions: No supplied taxonomy reference exactly names this cosmic-response pattern.
comparison_claims:
- id: claim:1
claim: The passage explicitly presents the Hymn of Triumph as a recurrent utterance
associated with all Buddhas.
claim_level: same_function
target: Hymn of Triumph sung by all Buddhas
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: high
limitations: This is an internal comparison stated by the passage; it does not establish
historical contact with another tradition.
- id: claim:2
claim: The passage links the present Enlightenment scene to earlier Bodhisattva
birth narratives by naming Wessantara and recalling former-birth gifts and sacrifices.
claim_level: same_function
target: Former-birth generosity and sacrifice in the Bodhisattva career
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:7
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: medium
limitations: The referenced earlier births are summarized here; the full comparative
details of those narratives are not included in the passage.
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 6477-6482
quote_or_summary: The Great Being extends his right hand toward the earth and asks
whether it witnesses his seven-hundredfold gift as Wessantara; the Earth answers
that it is witness.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/buddhist/project-gutenberg/buddhist-birth-stories-volume-1-rhys-davids.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary provided.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 6483-6488
quote_or_summary: The elephant “Girded with mountains” kneels before the Great Being,
and Māra's army flees, casting off clothing and turbans.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/buddhist/project-gutenberg/buddhist-birth-stories-volume-1-rhys-davids.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary provided.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 6489-6515
quote_or_summary: Heavenly hosts announce that the Tempter is overcome and that
Siddhattha has prevailed; Nāgas, Winged Ones, Angels, Brahma Gods, and other gods
rejoice and honor him at the Bo-tree.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/buddhist/project-gutenberg/buddhist-birth-stories-volume-1-rhys-davids.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary provided.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 6516-6523
quote_or_summary: Before sunset the Great Being routs the Evil One's army; while
the Bo-tree seems to pay homage, he gains knowledge of past, present, and the
causal chain in the three watches of the night.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/buddhist/project-gutenberg/buddhist-birth-stories-volume-1-rhys-davids.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary provided.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 6524-6547
quote_or_summary: On realizing the twelvefold chain of causation and attaining complete
Enlightenment at dawn, ten thousand world-systems quake and become glorious, with
banners, flowers, light, sweet waters, halted rivers, restored faculties, and
loosened bonds.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/buddhist/project-gutenberg/buddhist-birth-stories-volume-1-rhys-davids.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary provided.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: lines 6549-6568
quote_or_summary: After attaining Omniscience, he sings the Hymn of Triumph, described
as sung by all Buddhas, about many births, the cause of individuality, broken
house-beams, Nirvāna, and the end of craving.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/buddhist/project-gutenberg/buddhist-birth-stories-volume-1-rhys-davids.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary provided.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: lines 6570-6591
quote_or_summary: Still seated after the hymn, the Blessed One reflects that he
endured successive births and gave away body parts and family members to attain
the throne of triumph; he remains motionless seven days in the bliss of Nirvāna.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/buddhist/project-gutenberg/buddhist-birth-stories-volume-1-rhys-davids.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary provided.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: medium
notes: The passage is explicit about figures, actions, and several motifs. Taxonomy
alignment is partly broad, especially for sacred-tree and rebirth-release patterns.
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 provided passage and metadata. Public-domain passage was summarized rather than extensively quoted.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:buddhist-jataka-birth-stories-rhys-davids-gutenberg__l6477-l6591
passage_sha256=c16e9fac9b0f362b8e95a6e9d6f0aa1ab061b9920f8abeeab29d967ce828f299