Short answers, pulled from the story.
The Sanskrit word bodhisattva combines two roots: bodhi, meaning awakening or enlightenment, and sattva, a term with contested definitions. Scholars have debated whether sattva means being, mind, strength, or essence.
In pre-sectarian Buddhism, the term bodhisatta referred to Gautama Buddha during his previous lives and as a young man striving toward liberation. Early texts regularly describe him saying when I was an unawakened Bodhisatta focusing on his spiritual development before awakening.
Peter Skilling states that in the first century BCE groups of monks nuns and lay-followers began devoting themselves exclusively to the Bodhisatva vehicle. These Mahayanists promoted Vaipulya sutras later called Mahayana sutras.
Mahayana texts describe four key stages demarcating the bodhisattva path arising of thought of awakening endurance toward unborn nature attainment of irreversibility and prediction of future Buddhahood. James B. Apple notes these elements constitute basic path elements found in early translations by Lokakshema and Gandharan manuscripts.
Six perfections dāna generosity śīla virtue kşanti patience vīrya vigor dhyana meditation prajña wisdom form central framework. Later texts add upaya skillful means pranidhana vow resolve bala spiritual power jnana knowledge.