batch.motif.hindu-ramayana-griffith-gutenberg-l13617-l13788
---
record_id: batch.motif.hindu-ramayana-griffith-gutenberg-l13617-l13788
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
passage_locator:
label: Canto IX. The Plot. / Canto XV. The Preparations. / Canto XVIII. The Sentence.
/ Canto XXII. Lakshman Calmed.; lines 13617-13788
start: '13617'
end: '13788'
translation: The Ramayan of Valmiki
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: ''
summary: Lakshman affirms obedience to his father's orders. Kausalya laments Rama’s
banishment to the forest, fears his hardship, and asks to follow him. Rama urges
her to obey and comfort the aged king, frames obedience to father, king, and husband
as duty, and states that he will spend fourteen years in the wilds before returning.
Kausalya accepts that his resolve cannot be stayed and blesses his departure and
future return.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Lakshman weeps but says he will not oppose his father's orders and will follow
the path of duty.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Kausalya sees that Rama is resolved to keep his father's decree and speaks
through tears and sobs.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: Kausalya contrasts Rama’s royal life with the forest life of gleaned grain,
roots, and fruit.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:4
text: Kausalya says she will follow Rama wherever he goes, comparing herself to
a cow following its young.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:5
text: Rama says that if Kausalya also goes to the wild, the aged king will surely
die.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:6
text: Rama says both he and Kausalya must submit to his father's decree, identifying
the father as king, husband, and sire.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:7
text: Rama states that he will spend twice seven years in the wilds and then return
with joy.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:8
text: Rama instructs Kausalya to honor Brahmans and make offerings with fire-oblations
and flowers to heavenly powers.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:9
text: Kausalya accepts that Rama will go, says Fate cannot be shunned, and anticipates
his return after duty and vows are fulfilled.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:10
text: Kausalya imagines Rama returning from the wilderness with matted hair and
hermit dress.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: obs:11
text: Kausalya speaks blessings over Rama as he remains constant and resolved on
banishment.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Rama
description: Son of Kausalya and the king; resolved to obey his father's decree
and go into forest exile.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Kausalya
description: Rama's mother and queen; grieves over Rama’s banishment, wishes to
follow him, and later blesses him.
role_refs:
- role:3
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:4
- ev:9
- ev:11
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Aged king / Rama’s father
description: The father, king, and husband whose decree Rama obeys and whose grief
Rama fears.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Lakshman
description: Sad figure who weeps and declares obedience to his father's orders
and duty.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Bride of Raghu’s race
description: A bride who tries to cheer sad Lakshman.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Kaikeyi
description: Named by Rama as the one by whose art he has been banished to the wild.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Bharat
description: Described by Rama as true to duty and expected to serve Kausalya well.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
roles:
- id: role:1
label: obedient son
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Rama says he and his mother must be submissive to his sire’s decree.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: role:2
label: forest exile with promised return
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Rama states he will spend twice seven years in the wilds and return.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: role:3
label: grieving mother
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Kausalya speaks through tears and sobs and fears Rama's hardships in the
forest.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: role:4
label: blessing-giver
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Kausalya gives words with happy omens and invokes blessing on Rama's head.
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: role:5
label: royal father whose decree governs the action
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Rama identifies him as king, husband, and sire, and insists on obedience
to his decree.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: role:6
label: dutiful weeping kinsman
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Lakshman sheds tears yet says he will obey his father's orders and duty.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:7
label: comforter
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: The bride of Raghu’s race strives to cheer Lakshman.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:8
label: cause of banishment named by Rama
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: Rama says he is banished to the wild by Kaikeyi’s art.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:9
label: future caretaker
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: Rama says Bharat will serve Kausalya well and follow duty.
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: forest wilderness
literal_form: woods, wilds, forest, wilderness as Rama’s place of exile
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:7
- ev:10
- id: sym:2
label: forest food of hardship
literal_form: gleaned grain, roots, and fruit
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:3
label: fire in grief and offering
literal_form: fire imagery for Kausalya’s longing and woe; fire-oblations in Rama’s
ritual instruction
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:13
- ev:8
- id: sym:4
label: fourteen-year exile
literal_form: twice seven years in the wilds
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: sym:5
label: matted hair and hermit dress
literal_form: matted hair and hermit dress of the returning exile
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: sym:6
label: maternal following image
literal_form: mother cow following its youngling
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Lakshman affirms duty
summary: Lakshman is comforted and, while weeping, declares that he will obey his
father’s orders and the path of duty.
figure_refs:
- fig:4
- fig:5
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Kausalya laments forest exile
summary: Kausalya laments that Rama, born after long longing and raised as a prince,
must live in the forest on simple foods, and she says she will follow him.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
- sym:3
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:13
- id: scene:3
label: Rama counsels Kausalya to remain
summary: Rama tells Kausalya not to abandon the aged king, urges obedience to husband
and sire, asks her to comfort the king, and promises to return after fourteen
years.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:6
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:3
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:12
- id: scene:4
label: Kausalya accepts and blesses Rama
summary: Kausalya accepts that Rama’s resolve cannot be stayed, attributes the departure
to Fate, looks toward his return from the wilderness, and blesses him.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
- ev:11
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: heroic departure into forest exile
taxonomy_refs:
- departure
basis: Rama is banished to the wild, resolved on banishment, and expected to live
in the forest before eventual return.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:5
- ev:7
- ev:11
confidence: high
cautions: The passage presents the departure and preparation emotionally and ethically
rather than narrating the physical departure itself.
- id: motif:2
label: obedience to royal and paternal decree
taxonomy_refs:
- royal_legitimacy
basis: Rama frames the father as king, husband, and sire and insists that both he
and Kausalya submit to the decree.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
confidence: medium
cautions: Royal legitimacy is present through obedience to kingship and paternal
authority, but the passage does not stage a coronation or succession rite.
- id: motif:3
label: promised return after vowed exile
taxonomy_refs:
- return
basis: Rama says he will spend twice seven years in the wilds and then return, and
Kausalya anticipates his return with joy after duty and vows are fulfilled.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:9
- ev:10
confidence: high
cautions: The passage only promises and imagines the return; it does not narrate
the return event.
- id: motif:4
label: parental blessing before departure
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Kausalya, after accepting Rama’s resolve, speaks auspicious words and invokes
blessing on his head.
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
confidence: high
cautions: No specific taxonomy reference is assigned because the available motif
list has no exact parental-blessing category.
- id: motif:5
label: ritual piety during separation
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Rama instructs Kausalya to honor Brahmans and make offerings with fire-oblations
and flowers while awaiting his return.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage gives ritual instructions but does not narrate their performance.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 13617-13628
quote_or_summary: The bride of Raghu’s race tries to cheer sad Lakshman; Lakshman
weeps and says he will not oppose his sire’s orders and will follow duty.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summary only.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 13632-13636
quote_or_summary: Kausalya sees Rama resolved to keep his sire’s decree and speaks
righteously while tears and sobs break her utterance.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summary only.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 13637-13648
quote_or_summary: Kausalya asks whether Rama, accustomed to royal comforts, can
live in the forest on gleaned grain, roots, and fruit, and says he is expelled
by his father the king.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summary only.
- id: ev:4
type: quote
locator: lines 13665-13668
quote_or_summary: "“The mother cow still follows near / The wanderings of her youngling
dear. / So close to thine my feet shall be”"
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; short excerpt.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 13675-13678
quote_or_summary: Rama says that when he is banished to the wild by Kaikeyi’s art,
if Kausalya also goes, the aged king will surely die.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summary only.
- id: ev:6
type: quote
locator: lines 13683-13690
quote_or_summary: "“Thou must with love his will obey... / King, husband, sire is
he confessed”"
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; short excerpt.
- id: ev:7
type: quote
locator: lines 13691-13694
quote_or_summary: "“I in the wilds my days will spend / Till twice seven years have
reached an end, / Then with great joy will come again”"
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; short excerpt.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: lines 13731-13734
quote_or_summary: Rama tells Kausalya to honor true Brahmans and make constant offerings
with fire-oblations and flowers to the heavenly powers.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summary only.
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: lines 13745-13760
quote_or_summary: Kausalya says Rama’s firm resolve cannot be stayed, that Fate’s
commands cannot be shunned, and that his return after duty and vows will bring
joy.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summary only.
- id: ev:10
type: quote
locator: lines 13767-13770
quote_or_summary: "“With matted hair and hermit dress / returning from the wilderness.”"
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; short excerpt.
- id: ev:11
type: summary
locator: lines 13771-13778
quote_or_summary: Kausalya approves Rama’s constancy and resolve on banishment,
speaks words with happy omens, and invokes a blessing on his head.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summary only.
- id: ev:12
type: summary
locator: lines 13709-13712
quote_or_summary: Rama says Bharat, true to duty and sweet in speech, will serve
Kausalya well and keep the virtuous path.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summary only.
- id: ev:13
type: summary
locator: lines 13653-13664
quote_or_summary: 'Kausalya describes her longing for a child and present grief
through fire imagery: offerings from tears, fuel of groans and sighs, and a flame
of woe that will pierce her heart.'
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summary only.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: high
notes: Core figures, actions, exile duration, forest setting, and blessing are explicit.
Motif assignments are cautious and limited to available taxonomy where directly
supported. No comparison claims were made because the passage itself does not
compare traditions or motifs.
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 context was used; figure labels are limited to names or descriptions present in the supplied passage.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:hindu-ramayana-griffith-gutenberg__l13617-l13788
passage_sha256=d664406387e12b3c7d9d99c80e0068bfcc5153e98e269203d208410b52998826