batch.motif.hindu-mahabharata-dutt-gutenberg-l5516-l5652
---
record_id: batch.motif.hindu-mahabharata-dutt-gutenberg-l5516-l5652
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/mahabharata-dutt.md
passage_locator:
label: BOOK IX / DRONA-BADHA / BOOK X / KARNA-BADHA; lines 5516-5652
start: '5516'
end: '5652'
translation: Maha-bharata
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: ''
summary: In a battlefield episode, Salya taunts Karna while driving his chariot
and predicts Arjun's arrival. Karna attacks Yudhishthir; Yudhishthir wounds Karna,
but Karna recovers, destroys Yudhishthir's armour, standard, chariot, and horses,
then spares and insults him. In his tent, Yudhishthir angrily demands that Arjun
kill Karna and insults Arjun's courage and weapons. Arjun, enraged, draws his
sword against his elder, but Krishna intervenes, instructing him to honor Yudhishthir
and direct his weapons toward Karna instead. Arjun obeys with sorrow.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Salya laughs at Karna, reins the horses, and says Arjun will not delay in
coming to battle.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Karna becomes angry and drives through hostile forces toward Yudhishthir.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: Nishadas and Panchalas close between Karna and Yudhishthir but fail to stop
the attack.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: Yudhishthir challenges Karna and says Karna will fall by his hand according
to the gods' ordinance.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:5
text: Yudhishthir shoots an arrow that pierces Karna on the left, causing him to
fall and faint before rising again.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:6
text: Karna's arrows shatter Yudhishthir's armour, and Karna later cuts down his
standard and destroys his chariot.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:7
text: Yudhishthir, bleeding and without car, horses, or armour, flees the fight.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:8
text: Karna insults Yudhishthir as a timid man of penance, says he will not shed
his blood, and tells him to summon Arjun.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:9
text: Yudhishthir returns to his tent and angrily asks Arjun whether Karna has been
slain.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:10
text: Krishna answers that Arjun fought elsewhere and now meets Karna, vowing Karna's
death that day.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:11
text: Yudhishthir insults Arjun's courage and tells him to yield Gandiva, his helmet,
armour, sword, and shield to worthier hands.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:12
text: Arjun becomes enraged, places his hand on his sword-hilt, and draws the blade
against his elder.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:13
text: Krishna intervenes, tells Arjun not to use his weapon before his elder, and
commands him to honor Yudhishthir and sheathe his sword.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: obs:14
text: Arjun listens, obeys Krishna's command, and weeps.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Karna
description: Warrior and archer who attacks Yudhishthir, is wounded, recovers, destroys
Yudhishthir's battle equipment, and insults him while sparing his blood.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Salya
description: King of Madra who drives Karna's horses and taunts him by predicting
Arjun's arrival.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Yudhishthir
description: Pandu's son and elder king who fights Karna, is defeated and shamed,
then rebukes Arjun in his tent.
role_refs:
- role:4
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:8
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Arjun
description: Helmed warrior associated with Gandiva; Karna's expected opponent;
insulted by Yudhishthir and briefly enraged enough to draw his sword against his
elder.
role_refs:
- role:6
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:11
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Krishna
description: Peerless charioteer of Arjun who answers Yudhishthir and restrains
Arjun from attacking his elder.
role_refs:
- role:8
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:10
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Nishadas
description: Battle ranks that close between Karna and Yudhishthir and fight in
vain.
role_refs:
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Panchalas
description: Faithful battle allies who strive among the slain but fail to stop
Karna's advance.
role_refs:
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Duryodhan
description: Named by Yudhishthir as the one whose mandate Karna is willing to do.
role_refs:
- role:11
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
roles:
- id: role:1
label: opposing archer-warrior
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Karna is addressed as a mighty archer, attacks Yudhishthir, and later is
named as Arjun's foe.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:5
- ev:7
- id: role:2
label: victor who spares and insults defeated opponent
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: After destroying Yudhishthir's car and equipment, Karna lets him go and mocks
him.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:3
label: charioteer and taunting counselor
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Salya reins Karna's coursers and speaks tauntingly about Arjun's superiority.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:4
label: elder king and wounded combatant
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Yudhishthir stands against Karna, wounds him, is then defeated, and is later
described as king and elder.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:5
- ev:9
- id: role:5
label: insulted defeated warrior seeking redress
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Yudhishthir flees wounded and shamed, then demands news of Karna's death
and reproaches Arjun.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:8
- id: role:6
label: younger champion summoned against Karna
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Karna tells Yudhishthir to call Arjun, and Krishna says Arjun vows Karna's
death.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:7
- id: role:7
label: angered kinsman restrained from elder-violence
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Arjun draws his sword after Yudhishthir's insults, but Krishna prevents the
act.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:10
- ev:11
- id: role:8
label: charioteer of Arjun
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: Yudhishthir refers to Krishna driving Arjun's coursers.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: role:9
label: wise mediator and moral instructor
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: Krishna heals the fatal feud, tells Arjun to honor his elder, and directs
him back to proper battle duty.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: role:10
label: intervening battle allies
assigned_to:
- fig:6
- fig:7
basis: The Nishadas and Panchalas close between the fighters and strive unsuccessfully.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:11
label: mandate-giving ally of Karna
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: Yudhishthir asks whether Karna will do Duryodhan's mandate.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: battle chariot and coursers
literal_form: chariot, horses, and reins used in battle movement
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:8
- id: sym:2
label: Gandiva
literal_form: Arjun's famed bow
associated_figures:
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: sym:3
label: Vijaya
literal_form: Karna's famed bow
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:4
label: drawn sword
literal_form: dark, glistening blade drawn by Arjun
associated_figures:
- fig:4
- fig:3
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
- id: sym:5
label: standard and armour
literal_form: royal standard, helmet, armour, sword, and shield as warrior equipment
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:8
- id: sym:6
label: fire and flame imagery
literal_form: fiery coursers, fiery foeman's blood, and red flame of anger as descriptive
images
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
- ev:9
- id: sym:7
label: poisonous snake image
literal_form: Karna compared to a snake of deathful poison guarding the Kuru force
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs:
- serpent
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Salya taunts Karna while driving
summary: Salya laughs, controls the horses, and warns Karna that Arjun will come
upon him in battle.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Karna and Yudhishthir clash
summary: Karna drives through the ranks to Yudhishthir, who challenges him and wounds
him with an arrow; Karna faints and rises again.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:8
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: scene:3
label: Yudhishthir defeated and spared
summary: Karna shatters Yudhishthir's armour, cuts his standard, destroys his chariot,
and taunts him while allowing him to flee.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:3
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: scene:4
label: Yudhishthir rebukes Arjun in the tent
summary: Yudhishthir recounts his defeat and shame, asks if Karna has been killed,
and insults Arjun's courage and weapons.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:1
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
- sym:5
- sym:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: scene:5
label: Krishna averts violence against the elder
summary: Arjun draws his sword in anger at Yudhishthir, but Krishna stops him, instructs
him to honor his elder, and Arjun obeys with tears.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
- ev:11
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: taunt provoking or redirecting warrior action
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Salya taunts Karna toward confrontation, Karna taunts Yudhishthir after defeating
him, and Yudhishthir's taunts provoke Arjun to draw his sword.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:5
- ev:8
- ev:9
confidence: high
cautions: The passage shows repeated insulting speech and reaction, but it does
not name this as a formal motif.
- id: motif:2
label: defeated elder summons younger champion
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: After Karna defeats and humiliates Yudhishthir, Yudhishthir returns to his
tent and demands that Arjun kill Karna; Krishna says Arjun vows Karna's death.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
confidence: medium
cautions: The elder's request is embedded in battlefield anger and shame rather
than a ritual commission.
- id: motif:3
label: kin-violence averted by wise mediator
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
basis: Arjun draws a sword that would stain it with the sacred blood of a king and
elder, but Krishna intervenes with moral instruction and Arjun obeys.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
- ev:11
confidence: high
cautions: 'The taxonomy link is functional: Krishna''s counsel operates as wisdom
that prevents impious violence.'
- id: motif:4
label: warrior identity challenged through surrender of weapons
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Yudhishthir tells Arjun that Gandiva lies useless and orders him to yield
his bow, helmet, armour, sword, and shield to worthier hands.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
confidence: medium
cautions: The challenge is verbal and not carried out as an actual transfer of arms
in this passage.
- id: motif:5
label: spared defeated enemy shamed rather than killed
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Karna defeats Yudhishthir but declares he will not shed his blood and sends
him away with insults.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
confidence: high
cautions: The passage gives no explicit reason beyond Karna's taunting speech for
sparing Yudhishthir.
comparison_claims:
- id: claim:1
claim: 'Krishna''s intervention has the same function as a wisdom-mediator pattern:
authoritative counsel prevents impious violence against an elder and redirects
the warrior toward the battlefield foe.'
claim_level: same_function
target: wisdom motif family
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
- ev:11
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: medium
limitations: This is a functional comparison to an available motif family, not a
claim about historical contact or a fully developed wisdom tale.
- id: claim:2
claim: The episode supports a cautious comparison to a recurrent kin-conflict-averted
pattern, because an enraged warrior nearly attacks a senior kinsman and is restrained
before bloodshed.
claim_level: same_function
target: kin-violence averted by counsel pattern
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
- ev:11
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: medium
limitations: The passage does not present a full fratricide narrative; the threatened
victim is the elder Yudhishthir, and the crisis is resolved immediately by Krishna.
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 5516-5533
quote_or_summary: Salya, king of Madra, laughs while reining the fiery horses and
says Arjun will soon come upon Karna in battle.
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 5534-5551
quote_or_summary: Angry Karna drives through hostile forces to Yudhishthir; Nishadas
and Panchalas fail to stop him; Yudhishthir challenges Karna and mentions Duryodhan's
mandate.
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 5552-5559
quote_or_summary: Yudhishthir shoots a powerful arrow that pierces Karna on the
left; Karna falls and faints, then rises again in anger.
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 5560-5573
quote_or_summary: Karna's arrows shatter Yudhishthir's armour; after further fighting,
Karna cuts his royal standard, crashes his battle-car, and draws the famed Vijaya.
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 5574-5583
quote_or_summary: Yudhishthir is described as "Carless, steedless, void of armour"
and fleeing; Karna calls him a "timid man of penance" and says, "blood of thine
I will not shed."
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 5584-5601
quote_or_summary: In his tent, Yudhishthir asks Arjun whether Karna has been slain
and recounts that Karna struck his driver, tore his standard, shattered his car,
killed his horses, and caused shame.
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 5602-5605
quote_or_summary: Krishna says Arjun had been fighting at a distance and now meets
Karna, vowing his death that day.
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 5606-5621
quote_or_summary: Yudhishthir insults Arjun as timid, says Gandiva lies useless
in his hand, refers to Krishna driving his coursers, and tells Arjun to yield
his weapons and armour to worthier hands.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/mahabharata-dutt.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:9
type: quote
locator: lines 5622-5629
quote_or_summary: Arjun's eye flames with anger; he puts his hand on the sword-hilt
and draws the blade; the passage says "Sacred blood of king and elder" would have
stained it.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/mahabharata-dutt.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short quotation.
- id: ev:10
type: summary
locator: lines 5630-5645
quote_or_summary: Krishna seeks to heal the fatal feud, tells Arjun not to use weapons
before his elder, instructs him to honor Yudhishthir, avoid sin against sacred
law, and sheathe his sword.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/mahabharata-dutt.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:11
type: summary
locator: lines 5646-5652
quote_or_summary: Arjun listens silently, obeys Krishna's high command, and sheds
tears of sorrow.
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: medium
notes: The battlefield sequence, named figures, actions, and objects are explicit.
Motif labels are cautious functional abstractions from the passage; comparison
claims are limited to motif-family function and make no historical-contact claims.
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. Metaphorical fire and serpent images were recorded as passage images, not as literal beings or events.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:hindu-mahabharata-dutt-gutenberg__l5516-l5652
passage_sha256=2dbf899b0deed3a7ae6c42e90544b2fc5cf610dbe17071b1ca2285a0b954cffc