batch.motif.persian-sadi-gulistan-ross-gutenberg-l4514-l4532
---
record_id: batch.motif.persian-sadi-gulistan-ross-gutenberg-l4514-l4532
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/persian/project-gutenberg/gulistan-sadi-ross.md
passage_locator:
label: XLVIII / LXIII / LXVII / LXXIV; lines 4514-4532
start: '4514'
end: '4532'
translation: The Persian Literature, Volume 2, The Gulistan
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: ''
summary: 'The passage gives two didactic counsels: do not ask a distressed dervish
about his condition during drought unless prepared to help him, and recognize
that reason rejects spending beyond providential allotment or dying before the
appointed time because destiny cannot be altered by lamentation.'
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: A speaker warns against asking a distressed dervish how he is during a season
of drought and scarcity unless one will also treat his wound and provide subsistence.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: The passage compares the distressed case to an ass stuck in a slough with
its rider, saying one should compassionately help rather than merely approach.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: If someone has already asked how the fall happened, the passage tells him
to prepare himself and take the ass by the tail.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: 'The passage says two things are contrary to reason: spending more than Providence
has allotted and dying before the ordained time.'
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:5
text: The passage states that destiny cannot be changed by many sighs and lamentations,
whether those utterances are grateful or complaining.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:6
text: An angel presiding over the store-house of the winds is described as showing
no compunction if he extinguishes an old woman's lamp.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: distressed dervish
description: A dervish in distress during drought and scarcity, with a wound and
need for subsistence.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: addressed inquirer
description: The person addressed as one who might ask the dervish about his condition
or ask how the fall happened.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: ass stuck in the slough
description: An ass stuck in a slough with its rider.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: rider
description: The rider on the ass stuck in the slough.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Providence
description: The allotting power named in the statement about not expending beyond
what has been allotted.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: angel presiding over the store-house of the winds
description: An angel who controls or presides over the store-house of the winds
and may extinguish a lamp without compunction.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: old woman
description: The owner or user implied by the phrase 'the old woman's lamp.'
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
roles:
- id: role:1
label: needy recipient
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The dervish is distressed, wounded, and in need of subsistence.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:2
label: potential helper obligated by inquiry
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: The addressed person is told not to inquire unless willing to apply balm,
provide subsistence, and help pull the ass from the slough.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: role:3
label: imperiled traveler or burdened creature
assigned_to:
- fig:3
- fig:4
basis: The ass and rider are stuck in a slough and need practical help.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:4
label: allotter of measure
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: Providence is named as the source of what has been allotted.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:5
label: agent of impersonal natural force
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: The angel presides over winds and extinguishes a lamp without compunction.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:6
label: vulnerable possessor
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: The old woman is associated with the lamp extinguished by the angel of the
winds.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: drought and scarcity
literal_form: season of drought and scarcity
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:2
label: wound and balm
literal_form: wound treated with balm
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:3
label: ass in slough
literal_form: ass stuck in a slough with rider
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: sym:4
label: appointed measure of life and provision
literal_form: Providence's allotment and ordained time
associated_figures:
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: sym:5
label: wind-extinguished lamp
literal_form: old woman's lamp extinguished by winds
associated_figures:
- fig:6
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Inquiry must become aid
summary: During drought and scarcity, the passage instructs the hearer not to ask
a distressed dervish about his condition unless prepared to provide healing and
material support.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Ass and rider in the slough
summary: The passage illustrates compassion by describing an ass stuck in mud with
its rider and telling the inquirer to help pull the ass out rather than merely
ask questions.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: scene:3
label: Limits of reason and destiny
summary: The passage states that spending beyond providential allotment and dying
before the ordained time are unreasonable, and that destiny cannot be altered
by lamentations.
figure_refs:
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: scene:4
label: Angel of the winds and the old woman's lamp
summary: An angel presiding over the winds is said to feel no compunction if he
extinguishes an old woman's lamp.
figure_refs:
- fig:6
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: compassion proved by practical aid
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
basis: The passage teaches that inquiry into suffering is improper unless accompanied
by healing, support, and active help.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
confidence: high
cautions: This is an ethical-didactic motif rather than a narrative mythic episode.
- id: motif:2
label: unalterable providential allotment
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
basis: The passage says Providence allots provision, life has an ordained time,
and destiny cannot be altered by lamentation.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
confidence: high
cautions: The passage is aphoristic and does not narrate a divine judgment scene.
- id: motif:3
label: impersonal celestial control of natural forces
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The angel over the store-house of the winds can extinguish an old woman's
lamp without compunction.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
confidence: medium
cautions: The angelic image is brief and functions as an illustration of destiny
or impersonal necessity.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: 4514-4518
quote_or_summary: In drought and scarcity, one should not ask the distressed dervish
how he is unless prepared to apply balm to his wound and supply subsistence.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/persian/project-gutenberg/gulistan-sadi-ross.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: 4518-4523
quote_or_summary: The passage describes an ass stuck in a slough with its rider
and says the hearer should compassionate them and help by taking the ass by the
tail.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/persian/project-gutenberg/gulistan-sadi-ross.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: 4526-4528
quote_or_summary: 'Two things are called repugnant to reason: expending more than
Providence has allotted and dying before the ordained time.'
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/persian/project-gutenberg/gulistan-sadi-ross.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: 4528-4530
quote_or_summary: The passage says destiny cannot be altered by a thousand sighs
and lamentations, whether in gratitude or complaint.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/persian/project-gutenberg/gulistan-sadi-ross.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: 4530-4532
quote_or_summary: The angel presiding over the store-house of the winds is said
to feel no compunction when he extinguishes the old woman's lamp.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/persian/project-gutenberg/gulistan-sadi-ross.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: high
notes: Literal extraction is straightforward. Motif labels are cautious because
the passage is didactic aphorism rather than extended mythic narrative. No comparison
claims were made because the passage itself does not support a specific cross-textual
comparison.
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. Taxonomy references were limited to available terms and applied cautiously.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:persian-sadi-gulistan-ross-gutenberg__l4514-l4532
passage_sha256=a9571abf7c692ec7a10c4fbb827dacde7c56dbf1752cb1e474f820d18bcb7c8f