batch.motif.hindu-mahabharata-dutt-gutenberg-l2428-l2568
---
record_id: batch.motif.hindu-mahabharata-dutt-gutenberg-l2428-l2568
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/mahabharata-dutt.md
passage_locator:
label: BOOK IV / DYUTA / BOOK V / PATIVRATA-MAHATMYA; lines 2428-2568
start: '2428'
end: '2568'
translation: Maha-bharata
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: ''
summary: Narad praises Satyavan’s virtues but reveals that Satyavan is fated to
die in one year. Savitri refuses to choose another husband, marries Satyavan,
lives with him in the forest, serves his parents, observes severe fasts and vigils
as the predicted day approaches, receives blessings that she may never be widowed,
and asks to accompany Satyavan into the dark forest when he goes out with an axe.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Narad says Satyavan has great virtues, including lustre, wisdom, prowess,
patience, generosity, grace, sacred knowledge, self-control, modesty, kindness,
and truthfulness.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: obs:2
text: Narad states that a fatal fault or destined sorrow cannot be removed by human
effort, rites, or penance, and that Satyavan will die one year from that day.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:3
text: Savitri’s father tells her to choose another husband because Satyavan is short-lived
and fated to die.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:4
text: Savitri declares that a maiden chooses only once and that Satyavan is her
husband because her heart and troth have chosen him.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:5
text: Narad affirms that Savitri is fixed in mind and heart and will not depart
from her troth.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:6
text: Savitri and Satyavan marry with blessings from Narad and forest hermits.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:7
text: Savitri lives in the forest for twelve months with Satyavan and serves his
parents through thought, deed, and word.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:8
text: Savitri wears bark garments or red cloth associated with ashram women.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:9
text: As the predicted day nears, Savitri undertakes a three-night vow of fasts
and vigils.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:10
text: On the fated morning Savitri prays, offers oblations to Fire, bows to Brahmans
and parents, and stands with joined hands.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: obs:11
text: Anchorites and aged Brahmans bless Savitri with the wish that she may never
be a widow.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: obs:12
text: Satyavan goes toward the distant dark jungle carrying a heavy axe on his shoulder.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
- id: obs:13
text: Savitri asks Satyavan to take her with him into the dark forest where sunlight
does not enter.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:13
- id: obs:14
text: Satyavan answers that Savitri is unused to labor, weakened by fasts and vigils,
and may not be able to travel the forest paths.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:14
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Savitri
description: A maiden who chooses Satyavan, marries him, lives with him in the forest,
serves his parents, undertakes fasts and vigils, and asks to accompany him into
the forest.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:13
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Satyavan
description: A virtuous youth praised by Narad, chosen by Savitri as husband, foretold
to die after one year, and later shown going into the jungle with an axe.
role_refs:
- role:3
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:12
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Narad
description: A rishi who praises Satyavan’s virtues, reveals the fatal destiny,
and later blesses the couple.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Savitri’s father / monarch
description: A king who asks Narad about Satyavan, urges Savitri to choose another
husband, and consents to the marriage after Narad’s counsel.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:7
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Satyavan’s parents
description: Aged parents, including a sightless monarch and aged queen, whom Savitri
serves in the forest.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Forest Brahmans and anchorites
description: Religious figures who receive Savitri’s bows and bless her that she
may never be widowed.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- ev:11
roles:
- id: role:1
label: steadfast chosen wife
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Savitri refuses to choose another husband and declares Satyavan her husband
by heart and troth.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: role:2
label: vow-keeping ascetic practitioner
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Savitri undertakes three nights of fasts and vigils as the fatal day approaches.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
- id: role:3
label: fated husband
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Narad says Satyavan is destined to die one year from the announcement.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:4
label: virtuous youth
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Narad enumerates Satyavan’s virtues and compares him favorably to divine
and royal exemplars.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: role:5
label: prophetic rishi
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Narad discloses Satyavan’s destined death and counsels the king regarding
Savitri’s fixed choice.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:6
- id: role:6
label: anxious royal father
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: The monarch fears the foretold death and urges Savitri not to marry a short-lived
bridegroom.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:7
label: aged parents served by daughter-in-law
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: Savitri tends the aged queen and serves the old sightless monarch like a
daughter.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: role:8
label: religious blessers
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: Anchorites and aged Brahmans bless Savitri with the wish that she may never
be a widow.
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: Fire oblation
literal_form: Oblations offered to Fire on the fated morning.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: sym:2
label: Bark garment
literal_form: Bark of tree used as Savitri’s forest garment.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs:
- tree
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: sym:3
label: Dark forest
literal_form: Distant dark jungle or forest where sunlight does not enter.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
- ev:13
- id: sym:4
label: Axe
literal_form: Ponderous axe carried on Satyavan’s shoulder as he goes into the jungle.
associated_figures:
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
- id: sym:5
label: Joined hands
literal_form: Savitri joins her hands in salutation after bowing to Brahmans and
parents.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Narad reveals Satyavan’s destined death
summary: Narad praises Satyavan’s virtues but states that Satyavan is fated to die
one year later, causing the king to oppose the marriage.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: scene:2
label: Savitri refuses a second choice
summary: Savitri tells her father that a maiden chooses only once and affirms Satyavan
as her husband; Narad supports her fixed resolve.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: scene:3
label: Marriage and forest household
summary: Savitri and Satyavan marry with blessings, and Savitri lives in the forest,
wearing ascetic garments and serving Satyavan’s parents.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: scene:4
label: Three-night vow before the fatal day
summary: As the foretold morning nears, Savitri undertakes a vow of three nights
of fasts and vigils despite concern for her health.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:5
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: scene:5
label: Morning rites and blessing against widowhood
summary: On the fated morning Savitri prays, offers Fire oblations, salutes Brahmans
and parents, and receives blessings that she may never become a widow.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:5
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- ev:11
- id: scene:6
label: Satyavan departs for the dark forest
summary: Satyavan goes toward the dark jungle with an axe; Savitri asks to accompany
him, while he worries that her weakened state makes the journey difficult.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
- ev:13
- ev:14
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: Foretold death of the chosen bridegroom
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Narad states that Satyavan is destined to die one year later, and the king
objects to marrying Savitri to a short-lived bridegroom.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
confidence: high
cautions: The passage gives the prophecy and family response but not the later outcome.
- id: motif:2
label: Single irrevocable choice of spouse
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_marriage
basis: Savitri declares that a maiden chooses only once and refuses to revoke her
choice of Satyavan despite the prophecy of death.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
confidence: medium
cautions: The taxonomy reference is broad; the passage emphasizes marital fidelity
and chosen troth more than a cosmic or ritual sacred marriage.
- id: motif:3
label: Ascetic vow to confront impending fate
taxonomy_refs:
- initiation
basis: Savitri undertakes a severe three-night penance of fasts and vigils immediately
before the foretold day of Satyavan’s death.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage presents the vow literally; any initiatory function is implied
rather than explicitly stated.
- id: motif:4
label: Blessing against widowhood before threatened death
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: On the fatal morning, religious figures bless Savitri with the wish that
she may never be widowed, directly contrasting with Narad’s prophecy.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- ev:11
confidence: high
cautions: The passage records the blessing and Savitri’s reaction but does not yet
show its fulfillment.
- id: motif:5
label: Wife follows fated husband into the dark forest
taxonomy_refs:
- departure
basis: Satyavan departs for a dark jungle with an axe, and Savitri asks to accompany
him despite weakness from fasting.
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
- ev:13
- ev:14
confidence: medium
cautions: Only the beginning of the departure is included in this passage; subsequent
events are outside the supplied text.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 2428-2435
quote_or_summary: Narad says Surya’s lustre and Brihaspati’s wisdom are in Satyavan,
and likens his prowess and patience to Mahendra and Earth.
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 2442-2455
quote_or_summary: Narad praises Satyavan’s generosity, lore, grace, beauty, self-control,
modesty, kindness, and truthfulness, while still saying Savitri should not wed
him.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/mahabharata-dutt.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:3
type: quote
locator: lines 2460-2467
quote_or_summary: "“On this day, a twelve-month later, this ill-fated prince will
die!”"
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/mahabharata-dutt.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short quotation.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 2468-2475
quote_or_summary: The king trembles and says his child shall not be joined to a
short-lived, fated bridegroom; he urges Savitri to choose another lord.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/mahabharata-dutt.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:5
type: quote
locator: lines 2476-2487
quote_or_summary: "“Only once a maiden chooseth, twice her troth may not be given!”"
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/mahabharata-dutt.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short quotation.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: lines 2488-2495
quote_or_summary: Narad says Savitri is fixed in mind and heart, will never depart
from her troth, and should wed her chosen one.
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 2496-2501
quote_or_summary: The monarch accepts Narad’s mandate; Narad blesses the loving
youth and maid, and forest hermits bless their wedding.
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 2506-2517
quote_or_summary: For twelve months Savitri lives in the dark forest with Satyavan,
wears bark or red ashram cloth, tends the aged queen, and serves the old sightless
monarch.
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 2518-2531
quote_or_summary: 'As the fatal morning nears, Savitri counts the days and undertakes
the severe triratra vow: three nights of penance, fasts, and vigils; the king
worries for her health but consents.'
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 2532-2539
quote_or_summary: On the fated morning, Savitri silently prays, offers oblations
to Fire, bows to forest Brahmans and parents, and stands with joined hands.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/mahabharata-dutt.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:11
type: quote
locator: lines 2540-2547
quote_or_summary: "“Widow may’st thou never be”"
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/mahabharata-dutt.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short quotation.
- id: ev:12
type: summary
locator: lines 2556-2559
quote_or_summary: Satyavan, described as young, tall, and stately, goes forth to
the distant dark jungle with a heavy axe on his shoulder.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/mahabharata-dutt.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:13
type: quote
locator: lines 2560-2563
quote_or_summary: "“Take me to the darksome forest, husband, let me go to-day!”"
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/mahabharata-dutt.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short quotation.
- id: ev:14
type: summary
locator: lines 2564-2568
quote_or_summary: Satyavan tells Savitri not to come because she is unused to labor
and weakened by recent fasts and vigils.
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 passage clearly supports literal extraction of figures, actions, and
scenes. Motif taxonomy links are cautious because the supplied taxonomy is broad
and the passage segment ends before the death encounter or resolution.
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 comparison claims were added because the supplied passage itself does not support a specific cross-tradition or intra-corpus comparison beyond broad motif labels.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:hindu-mahabharata-dutt-gutenberg__l2428-l2568
passage_sha256=b238a22b1bef2e2c3f41a80e7227c1a8051b06592c8062030bb41d807267f950