batch.motif.sufi-rumi-mesnevi-book-1-redhouse-gutenberg-l4415-l4497
---
record_id: batch.motif.sufi-rumi-mesnevi-book-1-redhouse-gutenberg-l4415-l4497
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/sufi/project-gutenberg/mesnevi-book-1-redhouse.md
passage_locator:
label: CHAPTER II. / CHAPTER III. / CHAPTER IV. / CHAPTER V.; lines 4415-4497
start: '4415'
end: '4497'
translation: The Mesnevi
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: ''
summary: The passage gives a biographical account of Sheykh Salāhu-’d-Dīn Ferīdūn’s
relationship with Jelāl, his appointment as assistant, a royal test involving
a young snake hidden in a sealed gold box, Ferīdūn’s miraculous disclosure of
the secret, the king’s discipleship, and notices about Fātima’s marriage, sanctity,
ascetic practice, charity, and Ferīdūn’s death.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Sheykh Salāhu-’d-Dīn Ferīdūn was originally a fellow-disciple with Jelāl under
Seyyid Burhānu-’d-Dīn and later became a goldbeater because his parents were poor.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: After Shemsu-’d-Dīn’s murder and Jelāl’s return from Damascus, Jelāl sent
for Salāh and appointed him assistant in governing and instructing the disciples.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: The monarch picked up a young snake, placed it in a gold box, sealed it, and
returned to his courtiers.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:4
text: The king claimed the sealed packet had come from the Qaysar of Constantinople
and challenged religious specialists to identify its contents without breaking
the seals.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:5
text: The courtiers, ministers, eminent teachers, and theologians were unable to
solve the sealed-packet riddle.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:6
text: When the packet was brought to Jelāl, Jelāl invited Ferīdūn to tell its contents,
and Ferīdūn identified the young snake in the gold box and the king’s false pretense.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:7
text: Ferīdūn stated that a saint knows the solution to such a trick and also knows
the king’s thoughts and the secrets of earth and heaven.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:8
text: After hearing Ferīdūn’s answer, the king came to the college and professed
himself a disciple.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:9
text: Fātima, daughter of Sheykh Salāhu-’d-Dīn Ferīdūn, married Sultan Veled, Jelāl’s
son.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:10
text: At Fātima’s marriage, all the angels of heaven were present and wished happiness
to the couple.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:11
text: Fātima is described as a saint who continually worked miracles, fasted by
day, watched by night, ate only once in three days, and gave food and clothing
to the poor, orphans, and widows.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:12
text: Sheykh Ferīdūn died on New Year’s Day, A.H. 657, corresponding to 28 December
A.D. 1258.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Sheykh Salāhu-’d-Dīn Ferīdūn, surnamed Zer-Kūb
description: A former fellow-disciple of Jelāl, later a goldbeater, appointed assistant
to Jelāl, and credited with identifying the hidden contents of the sealed gold
box.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:9
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Jelāl
description: A spiritual figure who renews relations with Ferīdūn, appoints him
assistant, asks him to solve the packet riddle, and teaches Fātima.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:5
- ev:7
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Gayāsu-’d-Dīn Key-Khusrev
description: The reigning monarch who sets the sealed-packet test and later professes
himself a disciple.
role_refs:
- role:3
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:6
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: young snake
description: The animal the king places inside the sealed gold box.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:5
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: courtiers, ministers, teachers, and theologians
description: Groups challenged to solve the packet riddle; none can do so.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Fātima
description: Daughter of Sheykh Ferīdūn, wife of Sultan Veled, taught by Jelāl,
and described as a miracle-working saint with ascetic and charitable practices.
role_refs:
- role:9
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:10
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Sultan Veled
description: Jelāl’s son and Fātima’s husband.
role_refs:
- role:11
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: angels of heaven
description: Supernatural witnesses present at Fātima and Sultan Veled’s marriage
who wish them happiness.
role_refs:
- role:12
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: Shemsu-’d-Dīn
description: A murdered figure whose disciples’ power leads the king to infer the
greatness of his sanctity.
role_refs:
- role:13
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:6
- id: fig:10
name_or_label: Hediyya
description: Fātima’s sister, called Jelāl’s left eye.
role_refs:
- role:14
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: fig:11
name_or_label: Latīfa Khātūn
description: Mother of Fātima and Hediyya, called the personification of God’s grace.
role_refs:
- role:14
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
roles:
- id: role:1
label: former fellow-disciple and goldbeater
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The passage states that Ferīdūn studied alongside Jelāl and later became
a goldbeater because of family poverty.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:2
label: spiritual master and appointing authority
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Jelāl receives Ferīdūn, appoints him assistant, and asks him to answer the
sealed-packet riddle.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:5
- id: role:3
label: royal tester
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: The monarch creates the sealed gold-box puzzle and presents it as a test
to others.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: role:4
label: saintly revealer of hidden contents
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Ferīdūn identifies the snake and exposes the king’s deception without opening
the packet.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:5
label: hidden living contents
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: The young snake is sealed inside the gold box and becomes the concealed object
in the riddle.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:5
- id: role:6
label: unsuccessful riddle-solvers
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: The courtiers, ministers, teachers, and theologians cannot determine the
packet’s contents.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:8
label: new disciple after miracle report
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: After Ferīdūn’s answer is reported, the king comes to the college and professes
discipleship.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: role:9
label: saintly bride
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: Fātima marries Sultan Veled and is described as a saint who works miracles.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: role:10
label: ascetic and charitable saint
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: The passage describes her fasting, night watches, sparse eating, and aid
to poor people, orphans, and widows.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: role:11
label: bridegroom and Jelāl’s son
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: Sultan Veled is identified as Jelāl’s son and Fātima’s husband.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: role:12
label: supernatural wedding witnesses
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: The angels of heaven are said to be present at the marriage and to wish happiness
to the couple.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: role:13
label: murdered martyr and measure of sanctity
assigned_to:
- fig:9
basis: The king refers to Shemsu-’d-Dīn as the murdered martyr and reasons from
his disciples’ miracles to his sanctity.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: role:14
label: honored women in Jelāl’s household language
assigned_to:
- fig:10
- fig:11
basis: Jelāl calls Hediyya his left eye and Latīfa Khātūn the personification of
God’s grace.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: serpent
literal_form: young snake
associated_figures:
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs:
- serpent
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:5
- id: sym:2
label: sealed gold box
literal_form: gold box sealed as a packet
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: sym:3
label: sealed packet riddle
literal_form: sealed packet whose contents must be known without breaking seals
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:5
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: sym:4
label: right eye and left eye appellations
literal_form: Jelāl calls Fātima his right eye and Hediyya his left eye
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:6
- fig:10
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: sym:5
label: angel-attended marriage
literal_form: all the angels of heaven present at the wedding
associated_figures:
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Ferīdūn’s background and appointment
summary: Ferīdūn is introduced as Jelāl’s former fellow-disciple and goldbeater;
after Shemsu-’d-Dīn’s murder, Jelāl appoints him assistant in governing and instructing
disciples.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:9
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: scene:2
label: The king prepares the sealed test
summary: The king captures a young snake, places it in a gold box, seals it, and
falsely presents it as a packet from the Qaysar to test religious wisdom.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: scene:3
label: Ferīdūn reveals the hidden snake
summary: When the packet reaches Jelāl and Ferīdūn, Jelāl asks Ferīdūn to speak;
Ferīdūn identifies the young snake, the gold box, and the king’s trick, then states
that a saint knows hidden thoughts and secrets.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: scene:4
label: Royal discipleship after the miracle
summary: The reported answer leads the king to come to the college, profess discipleship,
and infer the greatness of Shemsu-’d-Dīn’s sanctity from his disciples’ power.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:9
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: scene:5
label: Fātima’s marriage and sanctity
summary: Fātima marries Sultan Veled with angels present; she is described as a
saint who works miracles, practices fasting and night vigil, and gives food and
clothing to vulnerable groups.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:8
- fig:10
- fig:11
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:10
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: saint reveals hidden contents of sealed vessel
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
basis: Ferīdūn identifies the young snake in the sealed gold box and exposes the
king’s ruse without opening the seals.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
confidence: high
cautions: The taxonomy reference is general; the passage frames the feat as saintly
knowledge rather than ordinary wisdom.
- id: motif:2
label: serpent enclosed in a precious container as a test
taxonomy_refs:
- serpent
basis: The king places a young snake in a gold box and makes it the concealed object
in a public challenge.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
confidence: medium
cautions: The serpent is a literal hidden animal in a trick; the passage does not
explicitly develop broader serpent symbolism.
- id: motif:3
label: miracle validates sanctity and produces discipleship
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: After Ferīdūn’s miraculous answer is reported, the king comes to the college
and professes himself a disciple.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
confidence: high
cautions: The passage links the event to sanctity, but it does not specify a formal
initiation rite.
- id: motif:4
label: angel-attended auspicious marriage
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_marriage
basis: The marriage of Fātima and Sultan Veled is said to be attended by all the
angels of heaven, who wish the couple happiness.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
confidence: medium
cautions: The wedding is human rather than a divine-human or cosmic marriage; the
taxonomy reference is approximate and should be reviewed.
- id: motif:5
label: ascetic charity as sign of female sanctity
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Fātima is described as a miracle-working saint who fasts, keeps night vigil,
eats rarely, and distributes food and clothing to the poor, orphans, and widows.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
confidence: high
cautions: This is a hagiographic pattern rather than one of the supplied named motif
families.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 4415-4428 / CHAPTER V.1
quote_or_summary: Ferīdūn is introduced as a former fellow-disciple of Jelāl under
Seyyid Burhānu-’d-Dīn; he later becomes a goldbeater, and Jelāl renews friendly
relations with him.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/sufi/project-gutenberg/mesnevi-book-1-redhouse.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 4429-4435 / CHAPTER V.1
quote_or_summary: After Shemsu-’d-Dīn’s murder and Jelāl’s return from Damascus,
Jelāl summons Salāh and appoints him assistant in governing and instructing disciples,
presenting him to the king in that role.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/sufi/project-gutenberg/mesnevi-book-1-redhouse.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 4436-4444 / CHAPTER V.2
quote_or_summary: King Gayāsu-’d-Dīn Key-Khusrev goes walking alone, picks up a
young snake, puts it in a gold box, seals it, and rejoins his courtiers.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/sufi/project-gutenberg/mesnevi-book-1-redhouse.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 4445-4458 / CHAPTER V.2
quote_or_summary: The king falsely says the sealed packet came from the Qaysar of
Constantinople as a test of Islamic wise men; courtiers, ministers, teachers,
and theologians fail to identify its contents.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/sufi/project-gutenberg/mesnevi-book-1-redhouse.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 4459-4471 / CHAPTER V.2
quote_or_summary: When the packet reaches Jelāl and Ferīdūn, Jelāl invites Ferīdūn
to answer; Ferīdūn says the king has imprisoned a young snake in a sealed gold
box and adds that a saint knows the king’s thoughts and the secrets of earth and
heaven.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/sufi/project-gutenberg/mesnevi-book-1-redhouse.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: lines 4472-4478 / CHAPTER V.2
quote_or_summary: The king hears the answer, comes to the college, professes himself
a disciple, and reflects that the miracle-working disciples of Shemsu-’d-Dīn show
the murdered martyr’s greatness.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/sufi/project-gutenberg/mesnevi-book-1-redhouse.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: lines 4480-4487 / CHAPTER V.3
quote_or_summary: Fātima, daughter of Sheykh Salāhu-’d-Dīn Ferīdūn, marries Sultan
Veled, Jelāl’s son; all the angels of heaven are present and wish the couple happiness.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/sufi/project-gutenberg/mesnevi-book-1-redhouse.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: lines 4488-4494 / CHAPTER V.3
quote_or_summary: Fātima is described as a saint who continually works miracles,
fasts by day, keeps night watch, eats only once in three days, and gives food
and raiment to the poor, orphans, and widows.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/sufi/project-gutenberg/mesnevi-book-1-redhouse.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: lines 4495-4497 / CHAPTER V.3
quote_or_summary: Sheykh Ferīdūn’s death is dated to New Year’s Day A.H. 657, corresponding
to 28 December A.D. 1258.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/sufi/project-gutenberg/mesnevi-book-1-redhouse.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:10
type: summary
locator: lines 4483-4485 / CHAPTER V.3
quote_or_summary: Jelāl calls Fātima his right eye, Hediyya his left eye, and Latīfa
Khātūn the personification of God’s grace.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/sufi/project-gutenberg/mesnevi-book-1-redhouse.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: uncertain
notes: Literal extraction is strong from the supplied passage. Motif labels involving
sanctity and hidden knowledge are well supported; the sacred_marriage taxonomy
link is approximate and needs review. No comparison claims were made because the
passage itself does not compare the episode to another tradition or motif family.
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. The passage locator label mentions multiple chapters, but the provided passage text is Chapter V.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:sufi-rumi-mesnevi-book-1-redhouse-gutenberg__l4415-l4497
passage_sha256=5fb56b5fbddfa63382d9c8665d5bc475c3e512afc8e74f14db0bb146face744e