batch.motif.persian-sadi-gulistan-ross-gutenberg-l4765-l4801
---
record_id: batch.motif.persian-sadi-gulistan-ross-gutenberg-l4765-l4801
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/persian/project-gutenberg/gulistan-sadi-ross.md
passage_locator:
label: LXXXIX / XCIII / XCVIII / CVIII; lines 4765-4801
start: '4765'
end: '4801'
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: 'A sequence of moral aphorisms: the sky gives rain and earth returns dust;
God conceals faults that neighbors would condemn; misers die without enjoying
their gold; those who oppress the weak may be oppressed by the strong; and a wise
person navigates opposition and rests in safety.'
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: The sky is described as enriching the earth with rain, while the earth gives
dust in return.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: 'An Arab saying is cited: vessels give what they contain.'
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: The speaker advises that another person's improper character should not cause
the listener to abandon good character.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:4
text: The Most High God is said to discern and hide what is improper.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:5
text: A neighbor is described as not seeing what is hidden yet loudly clamoring.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:6
text: Gold is described as obtained from the mine by digging into the earth.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:7
text: Gold is described as obtained from a miser by taking away his life.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:8
text: Misers are described as not spending, but guarding wealth anxiously.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:9
text: After the miser's death, the gold remains while the miser is dead and has
not enjoyed his hope.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:10
text: Those who deal harshly with the weak are said to suffer extortion from the
strong.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:11
text: The speaker warns not to afflict the hearts of the feeble, lest one fall under
the lash of the strong.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:12
text: A wise man works through opposition and drops anchor where he finds quiet.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: sky
description: The sky enriches the earth with rain.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: earth
description: The earth receives rain and gives dust in return.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Arabs
description: A group cited as the source of a proverb about vessels giving what
they have.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Most High God
description: God discerns and hides what is improper.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: neighbor
description: The neighbor does not see what is hidden and loudly clamors.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: miser
description: The miser does not spend, watches over gold anxiously, and dies without
enjoying the hoped-for wealth.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: weak or feeble person
description: The weak are vulnerable to harsh treatment and affliction.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: strong person
description: The strong may extort those who deal harshly with the weak.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: wise man
description: The wise man works through opposition and anchors in quiet.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
roles:
- id: role:1
label: giver of rain
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The sky enriches the earth with rain.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:2
label: return-giver of dust
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: The earth gives dust in return to the sky.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:3
label: proverbial authority
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: The passage introduces a saying as one used by the Arabs.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:4
label: discerner and concealer of faults
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: God is said to discern and hide impropriety.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:5
label: clamorous observer
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: The neighbor does not see the hidden matter but is loud in clamor.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:6
label: hoarder of gold
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: Misers do not spend and guard wealth anxiously until death.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:7
label: vulnerable victim
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: The weak and feeble are described as targets of harsh dealing and affliction.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:8
label: strong avenger or extorter
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: The strong may extort those who deal harshly with the weak.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:9
label: prudent navigator
assigned_to:
- fig:9
basis: The wise man labors through opposition and drops anchor in quiet.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: rain
literal_form: rain from the sky enriching the earth
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:2
label: dust
literal_form: dust given by the earth in return
associated_figures:
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:3
label: vessels
literal_form: vessels that give what they have
associated_figures:
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:4
label: hidden impropriety
literal_form: what is improper and hidden from human sight
associated_figures:
- fig:4
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: sym:5
label: gold
literal_form: gold from a mine or from the miser's grasp
associated_figures:
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:6
label: mine in the earth
literal_form: mine from which gold is obtained by digging into the earth
associated_figures: []
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:7
label: lash of the strong
literal_form: the lash under which the harsh dealer may fall
associated_figures:
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:8
label: anchor
literal_form: anchor dropped by the wise man where there is quiet
associated_figures:
- fig:9
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Reciprocal giving of sky and earth
summary: The sky gives rain to the earth, and the earth gives dust in return; the
passage links this to a proverb about vessels giving what they contain.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Concealed faults and neighborly clamor
summary: God is said to discern and hide impropriety, while the neighbor does not
see hidden things and clamors loudly.
figure_refs:
- fig:4
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: scene:3
label: Miser and unused gold
summary: Gold is obtained by digging into the earth, and the miser's gold is obtained
by his death; the miser guards wealth but dies without enjoying it.
figure_refs:
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:5
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: scene:4
label: Weak oppressed and strong retaliating
summary: Those who deal harshly with the weak may suffer at the hands of the strong;
the passage warns against afflicting the feeble.
figure_refs:
- fig:7
- fig:8
symbol_refs:
- sym:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: scene:5
label: Wise anchoring in quiet
summary: A wise man works through opposition and anchors where there is quiet, where
safety and enjoyment are available.
figure_refs:
- fig:9
symbol_refs:
- sym:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: reciprocal exchange according to one's nature
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_exchange
- wisdom
basis: The sky and earth exchange rain and dust, and the cited proverb states that
vessels give what they contain.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
confidence: medium
cautions: The exchange is presented as moral analogy rather than as a ritual or
mythic sacred exchange.
- id: motif:2
label: hidden faults spared from human condemnation
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
basis: God conceals what is improper, and the passage says that if hidden matters
were known, no one would be safe from a neighbor's criticism.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage stresses moral reflection and divine concealment, not an explicit
narrative of judgment.
- id: motif:3
label: hoarded wealth outliving the hoarder
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
basis: Misers guard gold and do not spend it; after death the gold remains while
they have not enjoyed it.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
confidence: high
cautions: This is an aphoristic moral motif, not a developed mythic episode.
- id: motif:4
label: oppressor of the weak overpowered by the strong
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
basis: The passage states that those who deal harshly with the weak will suffer
extortion from the strong.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
confidence: high
cautions: The reversal is expressed as ethical instruction rather than as a narrated
event.
- id: motif:5
label: wise adaptation to adversity and safety
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
basis: The wise man labors through opposition and anchors in quiet where safety
and enjoyment are found.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
confidence: high
cautions: The nautical image is metaphorical within an aphorism.
comparison_claims:
- id: claim:1
claim: The passage explicitly links its moral of giving according to one's contents
with an Arab proverb about vessels giving what they have.
claim_level: linguistic_similarity
target: 'Arab proverb: vessels give what they contain'
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: high
limitations: The passage provides only the translated proverb and does not identify
a specific Arabic source or broader transmission history.
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: quote
locator: CVIII; lines 4765-4771
quote_or_summary: '"The sky enriches the earth with rain, and the earth gives it
dust in return"; the passage also cites the Arab saying, "What the vessels have,
that they give."'
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/persian/project-gutenberg/gulistan-sadi-ross.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short quotation used for extraction.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: CIX; lines 4773-4777
quote_or_summary: God discerns and conceals impropriety; the neighbor does not see
hidden things yet clamors, and the passage warns that no one would be safe if
hidden matters were known.
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: CX; lines 4779-4785
quote_or_summary: Gold comes from mines by digging, and from a miser by his death;
misers guard wealth anxiously, but after death the gold remains and they have
not enjoyed it.
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: CXI; lines 4787-4792
quote_or_summary: Those who deal harshly with the weak will suffer from the strong;
the passage warns not to afflict the feeble lest one fall under the strong one's
lash.
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: CXII; lines 4794-4801
quote_or_summary: A wise man works through opposition and drops anchor in quiet,
where there is safety and enjoyment.
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: medium
notes: The passage is aphoristic and moral rather than narrative-mythic; motif assignments
are therefore broad and should be reviewed.
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 the provided lists.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:persian-sadi-gulistan-ross-gutenberg__l4765-l4801
passage_sha256=e710c5d163cd0c9b4959895e74199f120abc2d1d6ec635652082923f7ff761a7