batch.motif.hindu-mahabharata-dutt-gutenberg-l1395-l1542
---
record_id: batch.motif.hindu-mahabharata-dutt-gutenberg-l1395-l1542
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/mahabharata-dutt.md
passage_locator:
label: BOOK II / SWAYAMVARA / BOOK III / RAJASUYA; lines 1395-1542
start: '1395'
end: '1542'
translation: Maha-bharata
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: ''
summary: At Yudhishthir's royal assembly, Krishna receives the arghya of honor.
Sisupala objects publicly, arguing that Krishna is not entitled to precedence
over kings, elders, priests, teachers, and warriors present. Krishna answers by
listing Sisupala's offenses and stating that he had promised Sisupala's mother
to forgive one hundred faults. After declaring the limit exceeded, Krishna kills
Sisupala with his discus. Sisupala's spirit, cleansed of passion, comes to Krishna.
Cosmic signs and mixed reactions follow; rishis and Brahmans praise Krishna, and
Yudhishthir orders funeral rites and royal honors for the dead.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Sahadeva brings the arghya to Krishna, and Krishna accepts it.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Sisupala reacts with anger, tremor, and flaming eyes after Krishna receives
the honor.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: Sisupala argues in the assembly that Krishna should not receive foremost reverence
because other kings, elders, teachers, priests, and warriors have stronger claims.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: Krishna addresses the assembled chiefs and monarchs and recounts multiple
offenses attributed to Sisupala.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:5
text: Krishna states that he had pledged to Sisupala's mother to forgive one hundred
follies, but that Sisupala's crimes now exceed that count.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:6
text: A fatal discus comes to Krishna's hands and strikes Sisupala, severing his
head from his body.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: obs:7
text: Sisupala's soul is described as leaving its mortal covering cleansed of passions
and coming to Krishna like a flame-like spark.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:8
text: Rain, lightning, earth-tremor, and thunder occur after Sisupala's death.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:9
text: 'The assembled monarchs respond in different ways: some reach for weapons
in anger, while others welcome Krishna''s deed as proper punishment for a sinner.'
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:10
text: Rishis bless Krishna's deed, Brahmans praise him, and Yudhishthir orders funeral
rites and regal honors for Sisupala.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Krishna
description: The honored Vrishni chief who receives the arghya, answers Sisupala,
recounts his offenses, and kills him with a discus.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Sisupala
description: The Chedi monarch who objects to Krishna's precedence, is accused of
repeated crimes, and is killed by Krishna's discus.
role_refs:
- role:4
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:5
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Yudhishthir
description: The royal host whose court honors Krishna and who later orders funeral
rites and royal honors for Sisupala.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:7
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Bhishma
description: An honored elder whose judgment is blamed by Sisupala for Krishna's
precedence.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Sahadeva
description: The figure who serves Bhishma's command and brings the arghya to Krishna.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Assembled monarchs
description: The kings and chiefs present in the hall who hear the dispute and react
to Sisupala's death.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:4
- ev:6
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Rishis and Brahmans
description: Religious figures who bless or praise Krishna's deed after Sisupala
is killed.
role_refs:
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Rukmini
description: Krishna's wife, named by Krishna as the object of Sisupala's impious
desire.
role_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: Sisupala's mother
description: The pious mother to whom Krishna says he had promised to forgive Sisupala's
hundred follies.
role_refs:
- role:11
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
roles:
- id: role:1
label: recipient of ritual precedence
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Krishna receives the arghya and is treated as the foremost honoree in the
assembly.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: role:2
label: public accuser and judge of offenses
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Krishna recounts Sisupala's prior wrongs and declares that his doom is death.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: role:3
label: wielder of fatal discus
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The fatal discus comes to Krishna's hands and kills Sisupala.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: role:4
label: challenger of honor hierarchy
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Sisupala disputes Krishna's right to receive foremost reverence among kings
and elders.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:5
label: condemned offender
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Krishna lists Sisupala's offenses, says his crimes exceed the promised number
forgiven, and kills him.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: role:6
label: royal host and funeral-ordering king
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Yudhishthir's court gives the honor, and he orders funeral rites and regal
honors for the dead.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:7
- id: role:7
label: elder authority blamed for precedence decision
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Sisupala says Bhishma, though wise, has transgressed court rules through
partial love.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:8
label: ritual attendant
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: Sahadeva brings the arghya in response to Bhishma's mandate.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:9
label: witnessing assembly
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: The monarchs hear Krishna's declaration and show mixed reactions after the
killing.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:6
- id: role:10
label: religious validators
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: Rishis bless Krishna's deed and Brahmans praise him.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: role:11
label: recipient of vow
assigned_to:
- fig:9
basis: Krishna says a pledged word was given to Sisupala's mother that one hundred
follies would be forgiven.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: arghya of honor
literal_form: The duly flavored arghya brought to Krishna and accepted by him.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:2
label: fatal discus
literal_form: A dread disc that never misses its aim, appearing in Krishna's hands
and striking Sisupala.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: sym:3
label: severed head
literal_form: Sisupala's head is smitten from his body by the whirling discus.
associated_figures:
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: sym:4
label: cleansed spirit as radiance
literal_form: Sisupala's soul is compared to the radiant sun from a dark cloud and
to a lurid spark aflame as it comes to Krishna.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: sym:5
label: storm and earth-tremor after death
literal_form: Copious rain, lightning, earth-tremor, and thunder follow the killing.
associated_figures:
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Krishna receives the arghya
summary: Sahadeva brings the arghya to Krishna, who accepts it, and Sisupala reacts
with visible anger.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Sisupala disputes Krishna's precedence
summary: Sisupala argues that Krishna is not entitled to foremost reverence in an
assembly containing crowned monarchs, elders, teachers, priests, and warriors.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: scene:3
label: Krishna recounts Sisupala's offenses
summary: Krishna tells the assembled rulers that Sisupala, though kin, has committed
repeated offenses including attacks, theft, imprisonment, sexual violence, deception,
and desire for Rukmini.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:6
- fig:8
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: scene:4
label: Promise exhausted and execution by discus
summary: Krishna states that he had promised to forgive Sisupala's hundred follies,
declares the number exceeded, and kills him with the discus.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:6
- fig:9
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: scene:5
label: Spirit cleansed and assembly reaction
summary: After Sisupala's death, his spirit comes to Krishna, storm signs occur,
the assembly reacts with anger or approval, and religious figures praise Krishna's
deed.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:6
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: scene:6
label: Funeral rites ordered
summary: Yudhishthir instructs his brothers that funeral rites and royal honors
should be performed for Sisupala.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: contested ritual precedence in royal assembly
taxonomy_refs:
- royal_legitimacy
basis: The passage centers on whether Krishna deserves foremost honor among kings
and royal authorities, with Sisupala challenging the legitimacy of the arghya
offering.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
confidence: high
cautions: The passage is about precedence and honor rather than coronation or enthronement.
- id: motif:2
label: divine or righteous judgment of accumulated offenses
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_judgment
basis: Krishna lists Sisupala's sins, cites a limit of forgiven offenses, declares
the limit exceeded, and kills him with an unfailing weapon; religious figures
praise the deed as righteous.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
confidence: high
cautions: The passage presents Krishna as the executor of punishment, but the supplied
excerpt does not explicitly develop a formal court trial.
- id: motif:3
label: vowed forbearance before punishment
taxonomy_refs:
- covenant
basis: Krishna states that he gave a pledged word to Sisupala's mother to forgive
one hundred follies before acting against him.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
confidence: medium
cautions: The vow is interpersonal rather than a broad covenant between deity and
people.
- id: motif:4
label: death followed by purification and approach to divine figure
taxonomy_refs:
- annihilation_union
basis: After Sisupala is killed, his soul is described as cleansed of passions and
coming to Krishna like a flame-like spark.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage says the spirit comes to Krishna, but it does not explicitly
state complete union or doctrinal liberation in technical terms.
- id: motif:5
label: ritual honor offering as sacred exchange
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_exchange
basis: The arghya is brought and accepted as a formal act of reverence, triggering
the dispute over honor and status.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage emphasizes honor and precedence more than reciprocal exchange.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 1395-1402
quote_or_summary: Sahadeva brings the duly flavored arghya to Krishna; Krishna takes
it, and Sisupala visibly trembles and turns angry eyes toward Yudhishthir, Bhishma,
and Krishna.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/mahabharata-dutt.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 1407-1450
quote_or_summary: Sisupala protests that an uncrowned Vrishni chief should not receive
foremost reverence among crowned monarchs and names other possible claimants such
as Vasudeva, Drupad, Drona, Vyasa, Bhishma, Drona's son, Duryodhan, Kripa, and
Karna.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/mahabharata-dutt.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 1454-1481
quote_or_summary: 'Krishna tells the assembly that Sisupala has repeatedly wronged
him and others: burning Dwarka, attacking and imprisoning Bhoja''s monarch, stealing
the aswamedha horse, assaulting Babhru''s consort, deceiving Visala''s princess,
and aspiring to Rukmini.'
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/mahabharata-dutt.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 1494-1505
quote_or_summary: Krishna declares that he had promised Sisupala's mother to forgive
one hundred follies, says the crimes have exceeded the count, and announces that
Sisupala will fall beneath his weapon.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/mahabharata-dutt.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 1506-1515
quote_or_summary: The bright whirling discus strikes Sisupala and cuts off his head;
he falls like a thunder-riven rock, and his cleansed spirit comes to Krishna like
a radiant sun or spark aflame.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/mahabharata-dutt.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: lines 1516-1537
quote_or_summary: Rain, lightning, earth-tremor, and thunder follow. Some monarchs
reach for weapons in anger, others approve Sisupala's death as a sinner's due,
rishis bless Krishna's deed, and Brahmans praise him.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/mahabharata-dutt.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:7
type: quote
locator: lines 1539-1542
quote_or_summary: '"Funeral rites and regal honours be performed unto the dead,"'
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/mahabharata-dutt.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short quotation.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: uncertain
notes: Literal sequence and figures are clear in the supplied passage. Motif taxonomy
assignments are cautious because available categories are broad and the excerpt
does not provide external comparative framing.
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: |-
No external comparisons were added because the passage itself does not make or require a comparison to another text or tradition.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:hindu-mahabharata-dutt-gutenberg__l1395-l1542
passage_sha256=ce50181f620d9507b88397143e3e8dda49e99655eb57313d1e19f4f6dd959f1c