batch.motif.buddhist-jataka-birth-stories-rhys-davids-gutenberg-l8529-l8631
---
record_id: batch.motif.buddhist-jataka-birth-stories-rhys-davids-gutenberg-l8529-l8631
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/buddhist/project-gutenberg/buddhist-birth-stories-volume-1-rhys-davids.md
passage_locator:
label: GLORY BE TO THE BLESSED, THE HOLY, THE ALL-WISE ONE. / BOOK I. / END OF THE
STORY ON HOLDING TO THE TRUTH. / END OF THE STORY OF THE SANDY ROAD.; lines 8529-8631
start: '8529'
end: '8631'
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: A young man, Chullaka’s pupil, turns very small resources into increasing
wealth through a sequence of exchanges, favors, and commercial opportunities.
He provides molasses and water to garland-makers, clears garden debris through
children, sells firewood to the king’s potter, supplies water to grass-cutters,
uses their grass to profit from a horse-dealer, and then uses a deposit and managed
reputation to profit from merchants seeking a ship’s cargo. He returns with great
wealth, gives half to Chullaka in gratitude, marries Chullaka’s daughter, inherits
the estates, and becomes city treasurer. The Buddha concludes with a verse comparing
small capital to a tiny flame that can be nursed into wealth, and identifies Chullaka’s
pupil as Little Roadling and Chullaka as himself in a former birth.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: The young man buys molasses and carries water in a pot, then gives molasses
and water to garland-makers, receiving flowers and later flowering shrubs in return.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: After wind and rain blow dry sticks, branches, and leaves into the king’s
garden, the young man receives them from the gardener on condition that he remove
them.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: The young man gives molasses to children so that they collect the leaves and
sticks into a heap at the garden gate.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:4
text: The king’s potter buys the heap of sticks and leaves as firewood for burning
pots for the royal household.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:5
text: With twenty-four pennies, the young man places a pot of water near the city
gate and supplies five hundred grass-cutters with drink.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:6
text: The grass-cutters promise to do the young man a good turn when need arises.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:7
text: After hearing from a land-trader that a horse-dealer is coming with five hundred
horses, the young man asks each grass-cutter for a bundle of grass and asks them
not to sell until he has sold his own.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:8
text: The horse-dealer, unable to obtain grass elsewhere in the city, buys the young
man’s grass for a thousand pence.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:9
text: After learning from a sea-trader that a large vessel has arrived, the young
man hires a carriage, goes to the port, and gives his seal-ring as a deposit for
the ship’s cargo.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:10
text: Merchants from Benares come to buy the goods, but are told that a great merchant
has already paid a deposit for them.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:11
text: Each merchant pays the young man to become a shareholder in the ship and then
pays again for him to relinquish his remaining share.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:12
text: The young man returns to Benares with two hundred thousand and gives one hundred
thousand to Chullaka out of gratitude.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:13
text: Chullaka gives the young man his grown-up daughter in marriage and makes him
heir to the family estates.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:14
text: After Chullaka dies, the young man receives the post of city treasurer.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:15
text: The Buddha utters a verse saying that an able and far-seeing man can raise
himself to wealth with the smallest capital, as one might nurse a tiny flame.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: obs:16
text: The Buddha explains that Little Roadling has now become great in religion
through him, and formerly became great in riches through him.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: obs:17
text: The Jātaka connection identifies Chullaka’s pupil as Little Roadling and Chullaka
the high treasurer as the Buddha himself in a former birth.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Chullaka’s pupil
description: A young man who increases wealth from very small capital through exchanges,
favors, and trading schemes; later identified as Little Roadling in a former birth.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
- ev:8
- ev:11
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Chullaka the high treasurer
description: A treasurer whose advice the pupil says he followed; he receives a
gift from the pupil, gives him his daughter in marriage, makes him heir, and is
identified as the Buddha in a former birth.
role_refs:
- role:4
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:11
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: garland-makers
description: People returning from the forest who receive molasses and water from
the young man and give him flowers and flowering shrubs.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: gardener
description: The king’s gardener who allows the young man to take away wind-blown
sticks, branches, and leaves.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: children at the playground
description: Children who collect leaves and sticks for the young man after receiving
molasses.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: king’s potter
description: A potter seeking firewood for pots for the royal household; he buys
the heap of sticks and leaves from the young man.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: five hundred grass-cutters
description: Grass-cutters who receive water from the young man, promise future
help, and later provide five hundred bundles of grass.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: trader by land
description: A friend of the young man who tells him that a horse-dealer is coming
to town with five hundred horses.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: trader by sea
description: A friend of the young man who tells him that a large vessel has come
to the port.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: fig:10
name_or_label: horse-dealer
description: A dealer arriving with five hundred horses who buys the young man’s
grass when no other grass is available in the city.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:11
name_or_label: merchants from Benares
description: About a hundred merchants who come to buy the ship’s goods and pay
the young man for shares and for relinquishing his remaining share.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: fig:12
name_or_label: Buddha
description: The speaker who finishes the discourse, utters the verse, gives the
lesson, and makes the Jātaka connection.
role_refs:
- role:9
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- ev:11
- id: fig:13
name_or_label: Little Roadling
description: The present-life figure identified by the Buddha as having become great
in religion through him, and as having been Chullaka’s pupil in the former story.
role_refs:
- role:11
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
roles:
- id: role:1
label: resourceful wealth-seeker
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: He repeatedly turns small goods, favors, and information into larger gains.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:5
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: role:2
label: recipient of advice
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: He says he acquired wealth by adhering to what Chullaka said.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: role:3
label: grateful beneficiary
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: He takes half of his acquired wealth to Chullaka from gratitude.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: role:4
label: mentor or advisor
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: The pupil attributes his wealth to following Chullaka’s words.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: role:5
label: Bodisat in former birth
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: The narrative says Chullaka the high treasurer was the Buddha himself, and
also says the Bodisat passed away according to his deeds.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:11
- id: role:6
label: providers in reciprocal exchange
assigned_to:
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:7
basis: These figures give flowers, debris, labor, or grass in response to the young
man’s gifts or offer of service.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: role:7
label: buyers
assigned_to:
- fig:6
- fig:10
- fig:11
basis: They buy firewood, grass, or shares in the ship’s cargo from the young man.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:5
- ev:7
- id: role:8
label: informants
assigned_to:
- fig:8
- fig:9
basis: They give the young man timely information about a horse-dealer and a vessel.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: role:9
label: teacher of the lesson
assigned_to:
- fig:12
basis: The Buddha finishes the discourse, utters the verse, gives the lesson, and
sums up the Jātaka.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- ev:11
- id: role:10
label: former identity of Chullaka
assigned_to:
- fig:12
basis: The Buddha states that Chullaka the high treasurer was himself.
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: role:11
label: present identity of Chullaka’s pupil
assigned_to:
- fig:13
basis: The Buddha states that Chullaka’s pupil was Little Roadling.
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: water in a pot
literal_form: pot of water used to give drink to garland-makers and grass-cutters
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
- id: sym:2
label: molasses
literal_form: small bits of molasses given to garland-makers and children
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- id: sym:3
label: flowers and flowering shrubs
literal_form: bunches of flowers and flowering shrubs received from garland-makers
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:4
label: dry sticks, branches, and leaves
literal_form: wind-blown garden debris gathered and sold as firewood
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: sym:5
label: bundles of grass
literal_form: five hundred bundles of grass supplied by grass-cutters and sold to
a horse-dealer
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:7
- fig:10
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: sym:6
label: seal-ring deposit
literal_form: seal-ring given as a deposit for a ship’s cargo
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: sym:7
label: ship’s cargo
literal_form: cargo of a large vessel at the port, controlled through a deposit
and sold through shareholder payments
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:9
- fig:11
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: sym:8
label: tiny flame
literal_form: tiny flame in the Buddha’s verse, used in comparison with smallest
capital
associated_figures:
- fig:12
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Small exchanges with garland-makers
summary: The young man uses a farthing to buy molasses, carries water, gives both
to garland-makers, and receives flowers and flowering shrubs that help him gain
eight pennies.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Garden debris turned into firewood
summary: The young man obtains wind-blown debris from the king’s garden, has children
collect it after giving them molasses, and sells it to the king’s potter as firewood.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: scene:3
label: Water favor and grass sale
summary: The young man gives water to five hundred grass-cutters, later asks each
for a bundle of grass, and sells the grass to a horse-dealer who cannot find grass
elsewhere.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:7
- fig:8
- fig:10
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: scene:4
label: Ship cargo speculation
summary: Informed by a sea-trader of an arriving vessel, the young man creates the
appearance of a great merchant, gives a seal-ring as deposit, and receives payments
from Benares merchants for shares and for surrendering his remaining share.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:9
- fig:11
symbol_refs:
- sym:6
- sym:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: scene:5
label: Gratitude, marriage, inheritance, and office
summary: The young man returns with two hundred thousand, gives half to Chullaka,
recounts the story, marries Chullaka’s daughter, becomes heir, and later receives
the post of city treasurer.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
- id: scene:6
label: Buddha’s verse and Jātaka identification
summary: The Buddha states the lesson that small capital can grow into wealth in
the hands of an able and far-seeing man, and identifies the former-birth figures
with Little Roadling and himself.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:12
- fig:13
symbol_refs:
- sym:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- ev:11
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: small beginnings raised to greatness through practical wisdom
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
basis: The plot repeatedly shows the young man turning tiny resources into wealth,
and the Buddha’s verse explicitly states that an able and far-seeing man can raise
himself to wealth with the smallest capital.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:5
- ev:7
- ev:10
confidence: high
cautions: The available taxonomy has only a broad wisdom category; the passage’s
specific theme is commercial resourcefulness from small capital.
- id: motif:2
label: reciprocal favor becomes later advantage
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The young man gives water to grass-cutters, receives their promise of future
help, and later asks them for grass that he sells at a profit.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
confidence: high
cautions: This is a social and economic pattern in the passage; no narrower supplied
taxonomy reference is available.
- id: motif:3
label: teacher’s former aid explains present advancement
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
basis: The Buddha states that Little Roadling has now become great in religion through
him and formerly became great in riches through him; he then identifies the former
pupil with Little Roadling and Chullaka with himself.
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
confidence: medium
cautions: This motif is supported by the Jātaka frame, but the passage gives only
the concluding identification, not the full present-life frame.
comparison_claims:
- id: claim:1
claim: The passage explicitly compares Little Roadling’s present religious advancement
through the Buddha with his former advancement in riches through Chullaka, who
is identified as the Buddha in a former birth.
claim_level: same_function
target: present religious advancement and former wealth advancement in the Jātaka
frame
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: high
limitations: This is an internal narrative comparison made by the passage, not evidence
for historical contact or a comparison to an external tradition.
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 8529-8538
quote_or_summary: The young man buys molasses, carries water, gives molasses and
water to garland-makers, receives flowers and flowering shrubs, and gains eight
pennies.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/buddhist/project-gutenberg/buddhist-birth-stories-volume-1-rhys-davids.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 8539-8545
quote_or_summary: On a rainy windy day, sticks, branches, and leaves are blown into
the king’s garden; the young man offers to remove them if the gardener gives them
to him, and the gardener agrees.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/buddhist/project-gutenberg/buddhist-birth-stories-volume-1-rhys-davids.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 8546-8553
quote_or_summary: The young man gives molasses to children, who collect the leaves
and sticks into a heap; the king’s potter buys the heap as firewood and the young
man gains sixteen pennies and five vessels.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/buddhist/project-gutenberg/buddhist-birth-stories-volume-1-rhys-davids.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 8554-8562
quote_or_summary: With twenty-four pennies, the young man sets a pot of water near
the city gate and gives drink to five hundred grass-cutters, who acknowledge his
service and promise help when needed.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/buddhist/project-gutenberg/buddhist-birth-stories-volume-1-rhys-davids.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 8563-8575
quote_or_summary: A land-trader tells him a horse-dealer is coming with five hundred
horses; the young man asks the grass-cutters for bundles and asks them not to
sell first; the horse-dealer buys his grass for a thousand pence.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/buddhist/project-gutenberg/buddhist-birth-stories-volume-1-rhys-davids.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: lines 8576-8585
quote_or_summary: A sea-trader tells him a large vessel has come to port; the young
man hires a carriage, goes with a show of respectability, gives his seal-ring
as a deposit for the cargo, sets up a tent, and arranges ceremonial announcements.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/buddhist/project-gutenberg/buddhist-birth-stories-volume-1-rhys-davids.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: lines 8586-8600
quote_or_summary: About a hundred merchants from Benares come to buy the goods,
are told a great merchant has paid a deposit, and then pay the young man to become
shareholders and again for him to relinquish his remaining share.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/buddhist/project-gutenberg/buddhist-birth-stories-volume-1-rhys-davids.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: lines 8601-8609
quote_or_summary: The young man returns to Benares with two hundred thousand, gives
one hundred thousand to Chullaka from gratitude, and says he acquired it within
four months by adhering to Chullaka’s words.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/buddhist/project-gutenberg/buddhist-birth-stories-volume-1-rhys-davids.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: lines 8610-8617
quote_or_summary: Chullaka decides not to let such a lad go elsewhere, gives him
his grown-up daughter in marriage, makes him heir to the family estates, and after
Chullaka’s death the pupil becomes city treasurer; the Bodisat passes away according
to his deeds.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/buddhist/project-gutenberg/buddhist-birth-stories-volume-1-rhys-davids.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:10
type: quote
locator: lines 8618-8624
quote_or_summary: "“As one might nurse a tiny flame, / The able and far-seeing man,
/ E’en with the smallest capital, / Can raise himself to wealth!”"
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/buddhist/project-gutenberg/buddhist-birth-stories-volume-1-rhys-davids.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short quotation from supplied passage.
- id: ev:11
type: summary
locator: lines 8625-8631
quote_or_summary: The Buddha explains that Little Roadling has now become great
in religion through him and formerly became great in riches through him, then
identifies Chullaka’s pupil as Little Roadling and Chullaka the high treasurer
as himself.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/buddhist/project-gutenberg/buddhist-birth-stories-volume-1-rhys-davids.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: medium
notes: The literal narrative sequence and Jātaka identifications are explicit. Motif
labels are cautious and mostly limited to the broad supplied wisdom taxonomy.
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: |-
Only the supplied passage and metadata were used; no external comparisons or unsupported taxonomy IDs were added.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:buddhist-jataka-birth-stories-rhys-davids-gutenberg__l8529-l8631
passage_sha256=c724df6296511343e7c8aad0f2f958fd593696efc04f987df1391a1dff327608