batch.motif.buddhist-more-jataka-tales-babbitt-gutenberg-l1381-l1518
---
record_id: batch.motif.buddhist-more-jataka-tales-babbitt-gutenberg-l1381-l1518
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/buddhist/project-gutenberg/more-jataka-tales-babbitt.md
passage_locator:
label: THE LION IN BAD COMPANY / XVIII / THE WISE GOAT AND THE WOLF / PRINCE WICKED
AND THE GRATEFUL ANIMALS; lines 1381-1518
start: '1381'
end: '1518'
translation: More Jataka Tales
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: ''
summary: A cruel prince is abandoned by servants during a storm and swept down a
river on a log with a Snake, Rat, and Parrot. A poor man rescues them, warms and
feeds the animals before the prince, and the prince becomes resentful. The animals
promise future gifts and later show willingness to keep those promises, while
the prince, after becoming king, plans to kill the poor man to hide that the man
once saved his life.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Prince Wicked is described as fierce, cruel, and abusive to people in and
out of the palace.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: During a dark storm while the prince is swimming in the river, his servants
swim away from him and leave him in danger of drowning.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: The king orders a search along the riverbanks, but no trace of the prince
is found.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:4
text: The prince is swept down the river, finds a log, climbs onto it, and floats
downstream.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:5
text: A Rat and a Snake whose homes are flooded by the storm also climb onto the
log.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:6
text: A young Parrot from a cottonwood tree is beaten down by the rain and joins
the others on the log.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:7
text: A poor man hears the prince crying, swims out, and pushes the log to the bank.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:8
text: The poor man carries the Snake, Rat, and Parrot to his hut, builds a fire,
and tends and feeds the animals before tending the prince.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:9
text: The prince becomes angry because the poor man cares for the animals before
him.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:10
text: The Snake, Rat, and Parrot each thank the poor man and promise future help
or gifts.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: obs:11
text: The prince hates the poor man inwardly but pretends gratitude and promises
riches when he becomes king.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: obs:12
text: After the prince becomes king, the poor man tests whether the rescued beings
will keep their promises.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
- id: obs:13
text: The Snake, Rat, and Parrot each respond to the poor man's call and show readiness
to fulfill their promises.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:13
- id: obs:14
text: When the king sees the poor man, he decides to have him beheaded before the
man can tell others that he once saved the king's life.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:14
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Prince Wicked
description: A king's son described as fierce, cruel, and abusive; later made king.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:11
- ev:14
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Prince Wicked's father, the king
description: The reigning king who searches for his missing son after the storm
and later dies.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:12
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Servants
description: Servants accompanying the prince in the river who leave him during
the dark storm.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Poor man
description: A poor man living in a hut near the river who rescues the prince and
animals and later tests their promises.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:12
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Snake
description: A Snake whose riverside home is flooded; rescued by the poor man and
later offers buried gold.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:10
- ev:13
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Rat
description: A Rat whose riverside home is flooded; rescued by the poor man and
later offers buried money.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:10
- ev:13
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Parrot
description: A young Parrot from a cottonwood tree who is forced down by the storm;
rescued by the poor man and later offers choice rice.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:10
- ev:13
roles:
- id: role:1
label: cruel prince
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The prince is described as fierce, cruel, and abusive before the storm.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:2
label: rescuer and benefactor
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: The poor man swims out, saves the beings on the log, warms them, feeds them,
and later seeks to test their promises.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:12
- id: role:3
label: grateful rescued animal
assigned_to:
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:7
basis: Each rescued animal thanks the poor man, promises aid, and later responds
when called.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- ev:13
- id: role:4
label: abandoning attendants
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: The servants leave the prince alone in the river during the storm, saying
he may drown.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:5
label: ungrateful beneficiary
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The prince inwardly hates the poor man, only pretends gratitude, and later
plans to kill him.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:11
- ev:14
- id: role:6
label: searching father king
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: The king has the gates opened and searches the riverbanks for the missing
prince.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: river water
literal_form: river, storm water, floodwater
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:7
- id: sym:2
label: log
literal_form: floating log used by the prince, Snake, Rat, and Parrot
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: sym:3
label: fire
literal_form: fire built in the poor man's hut to dry the rescued animals
associated_figures:
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: sym:4
label: cottonwood tree
literal_form: cottonwood tree on the riverbank where the Parrot lives
associated_figures:
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs:
- tree
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: sym:5
label: buried treasure
literal_form: buried gold and buried money near the Snake's and Rat's homes
associated_figures:
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- ev:13
- id: sym:6
label: choice rice
literal_form: choice rice in the fields offered by the Parrot
associated_figures:
- fig:7
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- ev:13
- id: sym:7
label: great white elephant
literal_form: the king's great white elephant ridden through the city
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:14
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Cruel prince abandoned in storm
summary: Prince Wicked swims in the river during a sudden storm, and his servants
leave him in the darkness, hoping he may drown.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: scene:2
label: Shared refuge on the floating log
summary: The prince, Snake, Rat, and Parrot separately reach the same log and float
downstream together after the storm displaces them.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: scene:3
label: Poor man rescues and tends the vulnerable first
summary: The poor man hears the prince, pushes the log to the bank, carries the
animals to his hut, warms them by a fire, and feeds them before the prince.
figure_refs:
- fig:4
- fig:1
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:9
- id: scene:4
label: Promises after rescue
summary: The rescued animals promise gold, money, or rice to the poor man, while
the prince pretends gratitude and promises riches once he is king.
figure_refs:
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:1
symbol_refs:
- sym:5
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- ev:11
- id: scene:5
label: Testing gratitude
summary: The poor man visits the Snake, Rat, and Parrot, and each shows readiness
to fulfill the earlier promise.
figure_refs:
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:5
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
- ev:13
- id: scene:6
label: Ungrateful king plots against rescuer
summary: After becoming king, Prince Wicked sees the poor man from his white elephant
and decides to have him killed before the rescue story can be told.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:14
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: grateful animals reward a human rescuer
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The Snake, Rat, and Parrot are rescued by the poor man, promise future help,
and later show readiness to provide gold, money, or rice.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:10
- ev:13
confidence: high
cautions: The available taxonomy list does not include a specific grateful-animals
motif ID.
- id: motif:2
label: ungrateful ruler betrays rescuer
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The prince is saved by the poor man, resents him, pretends gratitude, and
later as king plans to kill him to conceal the rescue.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:9
- ev:11
- ev:14
confidence: high
cautions: This is a passage-level pattern; no external comparison is asserted.
- id: motif:3
label: rescue from flood or storm on floating refuge
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: A storm darkens the river, the prince and animals are carried or forced into
the water, and they survive together on a log until rescued.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage involves storm and river danger, but it is not a cosmic or
universal flood narrative.
- id: motif:4
label: testing promises after rescue
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The poor man deliberately visits each of the four beings whose lives he saved
to see whether they will keep their promises.
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
- ev:13
- ev:14
confidence: high
cautions: The excerpt ends before the full outcome of the king's hostile response
is shown.
comparison_claims:
- id: claim:1
claim: 'The passage supports comparison with a grateful-animals narrative pattern:
nonhuman beings saved by a human benefactor later promise and offer repayment.'
claim_level: same_motif
target: grateful animals repay a rescuer
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:10
- ev:13
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: high
limitations: The claim is limited to the pattern visible inside this passage and
does not establish historical contact or dependence.
- id: claim:2
claim: The passage contrasts grateful animal beneficiaries with an ungrateful human
ruler who seeks to harm his rescuer.
claim_level: same_function
target: contrast between grateful animals and ungrateful human beneficiary
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- ev:11
- ev:13
- ev:14
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: high
limitations: This comparison is internal to the passage and should not be extended
to external traditions without additional evidence.
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 1381-1518, opening paragraphs
quote_or_summary: Prince Wicked is introduced as a king's son who is fierce, cruel,
and abusive to everyone.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/buddhist/project-gutenberg/more-jataka-tales-babbitt.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary used.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 1381-1518, storm in the river
quote_or_summary: A great dark storm arises while the prince is swimming, and the
servants leave him alone in the river, thinking he may drown.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/buddhist/project-gutenberg/more-jataka-tales-babbitt.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary used.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 1381-1518, search for the prince
quote_or_summary: The king opens the gates and searches along the riverbanks, but
the missing prince is not found.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/buddhist/project-gutenberg/more-jataka-tales-babbitt.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary used.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 1381-1518, prince on the log
quote_or_summary: The prince is swept down the river, fears drowning, finds a log,
climbs onto it, and floats downstream.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/buddhist/project-gutenberg/more-jataka-tales-babbitt.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary used.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 1381-1518, Rat and Snake join the log
quote_or_summary: Storm water enters the homes of a Rat and a Snake on the riverbank;
both swim out and climb onto the same log.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/buddhist/project-gutenberg/more-jataka-tales-babbitt.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary used.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: lines 1381-1518, Parrot joins the log
quote_or_summary: A cottonwood tree is uprooted by the storm, and a young Parrot
from its branches is beaten down by the rain and flies to the log to rest.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/buddhist/project-gutenberg/more-jataka-tales-babbitt.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary used.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: lines 1381-1518, rescue by the poor man
quote_or_summary: A poor man in a hut near the river hears the prince crying, swims
out, and pushes the log to the bank.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/buddhist/project-gutenberg/more-jataka-tales-babbitt.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary used.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: lines 1381-1518, care in the hut
quote_or_summary: The poor man brings the Snake, Rat, and Parrot to his hut, builds
a fire to dry them, and gives care and food to the animals before the prince because
they are weaker.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/buddhist/project-gutenberg/more-jataka-tales-babbitt.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary used.
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: lines 1381-1518, prince's resentment
quote_or_summary: The prince becomes angry that the poor man does not treat him
like a prince and begins to hate him.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/buddhist/project-gutenberg/more-jataka-tales-babbitt.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary used.
- id: ev:10
type: summary
locator: lines 1381-1518, animals' farewell promises
quote_or_summary: The Snake offers buried gold, the Rat offers buried money, and
the Parrot offers to gather choice rice if the poor man later calls them.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/buddhist/project-gutenberg/more-jataka-tales-babbitt.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary used.
- id: ev:11
type: summary
locator: lines 1381-1518, prince's false gratitude
quote_or_summary: The prince inwardly hates the poor man but pretends gratitude
and promises him riches when he becomes king.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/buddhist/project-gutenberg/more-jataka-tales-babbitt.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary used.
- id: ev:12
type: summary
locator: lines 1381-1518, poor man tests promises
quote_or_summary: After Prince Wicked becomes king, the poor man decides to see
whether each of the four saved beings will keep the promises made to him.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/buddhist/project-gutenberg/more-jataka-tales-babbitt.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary used.
- id: ev:13
type: summary
locator: lines 1381-1518, animals respond to calls
quote_or_summary: The Snake and Rat come when called and show buried wealth; the
Parrot comes when called and offers to gather choice rice with family and friends.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/buddhist/project-gutenberg/more-jataka-tales-babbitt.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary used.
- id: ev:14
type: summary
locator: lines 1381-1518, king sees the poor man
quote_or_summary: The king rides through the city on a great white elephant, sees
the poor man, and decides to have him beheaded before he can tell how he once
saved the king's life.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/buddhist/project-gutenberg/more-jataka-tales-babbitt.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary used.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: medium
notes: The literal narrative sequence and roles are explicit. Motif labels are descriptive
because the supplied taxonomy does not include exact grateful-animals or ungrateful-rescued-person
entries.
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 Jataka parallels or tale-type IDs were added.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:buddhist-more-jataka-tales-babbitt-gutenberg__l1381-l1518
passage_sha256=3f01543d282168e3ae900fb59ba683e31646ee52fd59806302f877e5f2134c1a