batch.motif.hindu-mahabharata-dutt-gutenberg-l2283-l2426
---
record_id: batch.motif.hindu-mahabharata-dutt-gutenberg-l2283-l2426
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/mahabharata-dutt.md
passage_locator:
label: BOOK IV / DYUTA / BOOK V / PATIVRATA-MAHATMYA; lines 2283-2426
start: '2283'
end: '2426'
translation: Maha-bharata
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: ''
summary: 'A Prayer-Maiden grants King Aswapati a boon from Swayambhu: a noble daughter.
The queen bears Savitri, who grows in extraordinary beauty. When no suitor seeks
her, Aswapati instructs her to choose a husband. Savitri journeys through forests,
hermitages, and sacred places, returns to the royal hall, and declares Satyavan,
son of the exiled blind king Dyumat-sena, as her chosen husband. The rishi Narad
warns that disaster awaits if she marries him, while also praising Satyavan''s
truthfulness and virtues.'
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: The Prayer-Maiden blesses Aswapati's rites and penance and offers him a boon.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Aswapati asks for offspring worthy of his noble race.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: The Prayer-Maiden says she brings blessings from Swayambhu and that a noble
daughter will grace Aswapati's royal line.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: The Prayer-Maiden vanishes, Aswapati returns to his city, and the queen later
shows signs of pregnancy.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:5
text: A girl is born, described as lotus-eyed and as a gift of kindly gods; Brahmans
name her Savitri because the Prayer-Maiden had given the offspring.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:6
text: Savitri grows in beauty and is described by people as Deva-Kanya, born a goddess;
suitors do not seek her hand because of her splendour.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:7
text: On a festive day, Savitri bathes, comes to the altar, offers cakes and pure
libations to the Sacred Flame, approaches her father, places sacred flowers beside
him, and bows.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:8
text: Aswapati tells Savitri to choose a noble and upright husband and cites sacred
sastras concerning the duties of father, husband, and offspring.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:9
text: Savitri leaves her father's palace with guards and aged courtiers, travels
in a golden chariot to woodlands, visits hermitages and holy tirthas, and gives
food and wealth.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:10
text: After many days and months, Savitri returns to her father's palace while the
rishi Narad is seated with the king.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:11
text: Savitri says she has chosen Satyavan, son of the formerly powerful but now
blind and exiled king Dyumat-sena, who lives in the forest with his queen and
son under vows and penance.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:12
text: Narad says sad disaster awaits Savitri if she weds Satyavan, while describing
Satyavan and his parents as truthful and virtuous.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: obs:13
text: Narad says Satyavan loved horses in childhood and painting them, and was therefore
called Chitraswa.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Prayer-Maiden / Savitri
description: A maiden who blesses Aswapati, offers him a boon, and brings a blessing
from Swayambhu for a noble daughter.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Aswapati
description: King of Madra, described as pious-hearted and as the father of Savitri;
he performs rites and penance seeking offspring.
role_refs:
- role:2
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:6
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Swayambhu / Self-created / Creation's King
description: The self-created divine source from whom the Prayer-Maiden says she
brings blessings for Aswapati.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Aswapati's queen
description: The queen who bears the daughter granted to Aswapati.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Savitri
description: Aswapati's daughter, born by divine blessing, named after the Prayer-Maiden,
later sent to choose a husband and choosing Satyavan.
role_refs:
- role:6
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:9
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Narad
description: A rishi seated with Aswapati who questions why Savitri is not wed and
warns that disaster awaits if she marries Satyavan.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:10
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Dyumat-sena
description: Former king of Salwa, now blind, dispossessed, exiled to the jungle,
and living in penance; father of Satyavan.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Dyumat-sena's queen
description: The queen who accompanies the blind exiled Dyumat-sena and is fed with
wild fruits in the forest.
role_refs:
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: Satyavan / Chitraswa
description: Son of Dyumat-sena, chosen by Savitri as husband; described by Narad
as truthful, virtuous, and as a youth who loved and painted horses.
role_refs:
- role:11
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
- id: fig:10
name_or_label: Princely suitors
description: Potential suitors who are struck by Savitri's splendour and do not
seek her hand.
role_refs:
- role:12
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
roles:
- id: role:1
label: boon-giving divine messenger
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: She offers Aswapati a boon and says she brings a blessing from Swayambhu.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: role:2
label: penitent king seeking offspring
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Aswapati performs rites, sacrifices, and penance and asks for offspring.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: role:3
label: father authorizing bride-choice
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Aswapati instructs Savitri to choose a husband and grants paternal permission.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: role:4
label: divine source of blessing
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: The Prayer-Maiden says she brings blessings from Swayambhu and that he wills
a noble daughter for Aswapati.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:5
label: mother of divinely granted child
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: The queen becomes pregnant and bears the girl granted through the boon.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:6
label: divinely granted daughter
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: Savitri is born after the boon and is named because the Prayer-Maiden had
given the offspring.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:7
label: maiden choosing husband
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: She journeys at her father's instruction and declares Satyavan as her chosen
husband.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:9
- id: role:8
label: rishi warning of disaster
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: Narad questions Savitri's unmarried state and says disaster awaits if she
weds Satyavan.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:10
- id: role:9
label: blind exiled king and forest ascetic
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: Dyumat-sena loses sight and kingdom, flees to the jungle, and lives under
holy vows and penance.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: role:10
label: exiled queen in forest
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: She accompanies Dyumat-sena into exile and is fed with wild fruits.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: role:11
label: chosen fated bridegroom
assigned_to:
- fig:9
basis: Savitri chooses Satyavan as husband, and Narad warns disaster is attached
to that choice.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
- id: role:12
label: awed non-suitors
assigned_to:
- fig:10
basis: They are described as struck by Savitri's splendour and not venturing to
seek her hand.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: Sacred Flame
literal_form: altar fire fed with cakes and pure libations
associated_figures:
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: sym:2
label: golden chariot
literal_form: golden chariot used by Savitri during her journey from the palace
to woodlands
associated_figures:
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: sym:3
label: sacred streams at tirthas
literal_form: holy tirthas washed by sacred limpid streams
associated_figures:
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: sym:4
label: forest dwelling
literal_form: woods, jungle, and hermitages where Savitri travels and where Dyumat-sena
lives in exile
associated_figures:
- fig:5
- fig:7
- fig:8
- fig:9
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:9
- id: sym:5
label: lotus-eye
literal_form: Savitri described at birth as a girl with lotus-eye
associated_figures:
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Boon for offspring
summary: The Prayer-Maiden blesses Aswapati's rites and offers a boon; Aswapati
asks for offspring, and she announces a noble daughter from Swayambhu's blessing.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: scene:2
label: Birth and naming of Savitri
summary: After the boon, the queen becomes pregnant and bears a daughter who is
named Savitri because the Prayer-Maiden granted her.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:4
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: scene:3
label: Savitri's beauty and ritual approach to her father
summary: Savitri matures in extraordinary beauty, potential suitors hesitate, and
she performs offerings to the Sacred Flame before bowing to Aswapati.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:5
- fig:10
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: scene:4
label: Father instructs Savitri to choose a husband
summary: Aswapati tells Savitri to choose a worthy husband and invokes sacred teachings
about family duties.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:5
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: scene:5
label: Journey through woodlands and sacred places
summary: Savitri departs with attendants in a golden chariot, visits woodlands,
hermitages, and tirthas, and gives food and wealth.
figure_refs:
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
- sym:3
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: scene:6
label: Declaration of Satyavan and Narad's warning
summary: Savitri returns to the royal hall, declares Satyavan as her chosen husband,
recounts his father's exile, and hears Narad warn that disaster awaits the marriage.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:8
- fig:9
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:10
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: child granted after penance and divine boon
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_birth
- miraculous_child
basis: Aswapati performs rites and penance for offspring; the Prayer-Maiden grants
a boon from Swayambhu, and Savitri is born and named as the gift of that boon.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
confidence: high
cautions: The passage describes a divinely granted birth but not an unusual conception
beyond the boon and blessing.
- id: motif:2
label: maiden's self-choice of husband after sanctioned journey
taxonomy_refs:
- departure
basis: Aswapati instructs Savitri to choose her own husband; she leaves the palace
with attendants, travels through distant regions, and returns with her chosen
bridegroom named.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:9
confidence: medium
cautions: The journey is framed as bride-choice and pilgrimage rather than as a
fully developed heroic quest in this excerpt.
- id: motif:3
label: fated or dangerous marriage choice
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_marriage
basis: Savitri chooses Satyavan as husband, and Narad immediately warns that sad
disaster awaits if she weds him.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
confidence: medium
cautions: The taxonomy label is approximate; the passage presents a threatened marriage
choice but not a completed marriage in this range.
- id: motif:4
label: dispossessed royal family living as forest ascetics
taxonomy_refs:
- royal_legitimacy
basis: Dyumat-sena is described as a once-powerful king who loses sight and kingdom,
flees with queen and infant, and lives in forest penance.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage does not yet narrate restoration of the kingdom, so the royal-legitimacy
motif is only incipient.
- id: motif:5
label: truth-named virtuous bridegroom under ominous prophecy
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
basis: Narad identifies Satyavan by truth and virtue while also foretelling disaster
attached to Savitri's choice.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
confidence: low
cautions: The wisdom motif is inferred from Narad's advisory and evaluative speech;
the passage gives warning but not a longer wisdom teaching.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 2283-2290
quote_or_summary: The Prayer-Maiden blesses Aswapati's rites, sacrifices, penance,
and conduct, and invites him to ask a boon from the Ancient Sire.
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 2291-2302
quote_or_summary: Aswapati asks for brave and kingly offspring; the Prayer-Maiden
says she brings blessings from Swayambhu and that a noble daughter will grace
his line.
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 2303-2320
quote_or_summary: The Prayer-Maiden vanishes, Aswapati returns to his city, the
queen becomes pregnant, and a lotus-eyed girl is born; birth rites are performed
and Brahmans name the child Savitri because the Prayer-Maiden gave her.
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 2321-2328
quote_or_summary: Savitri grows in beauty, is likened to a goddess, and princely
suitors are too struck by her splendour to seek her hand.
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 2329-2338
quote_or_summary: On a festive day Savitri bathes, prays at the altar, feeds the
Sacred Flame with cakes and pure libations, approaches her father with sacred
flowers, and bows.
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 2339-2362
quote_or_summary: Aswapati tells Savitri to choose a noble husband and cites sacred
sastras about the duties of father, husband, and offspring.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/mahabharata-dutt.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: lines 2363-2378
quote_or_summary: Savitri takes leave with blessings, departs in a golden chariot
with guards and aged courtiers, travels through woodlands, visits hermitages and
sacred tirthas, and gives food and wealth.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/mahabharata-dutt.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: lines 2379-2392
quote_or_summary: After many days and months, Savitri returns to the palace while
Aswapati and the rishi Narad sit in the royal hall; Narad asks why she is not
wed.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/mahabharata-dutt.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: lines 2393-2414
quote_or_summary: Savitri says that Dyumat-sena, once king of Salwa, lost sight
and kingdom and fled to the jungle with queen and infant; living in vows and penance,
he raised Satyavan, whom Savitri chooses as husband.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/mahabharata-dutt.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:10
type: summary
locator: lines 2415-2426
quote_or_summary: Narad says disaster awaits if Savitri weds Satyavan, though Satyavan
and his parents are truthful and virtuous; he also notes Satyavan's childhood
love of horses and painting them, giving him the name Chitraswa.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/mahabharata-dutt.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: uncertain
notes: The main narrative details are explicit in the passage. Motif labels are
conservative and limited to supplied taxonomy references; no comparison claims
were added because the excerpt does not itself establish 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: |-
Only the supplied passage and metadata were used. Long quotations were avoided in favor of neutral summaries.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:hindu-mahabharata-dutt-gutenberg__l2283-l2426
passage_sha256=a2cf97a7b8199f2be745844a345c94d0a3eca8361ad69f76dd7904388878f109