batch.motif.hindu-ramayana-griffith-gutenberg-l15523-l15656
---
record_id: batch.motif.hindu-ramayana-griffith-gutenberg-l15523-l15656
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
passage_locator:
label: Canto XXVIII. The Dangers Of The Wood. / Canto XXX. The Triumph Of Love.
/ Canto XXXII. The Gift Of The Treasures. / Canto XXXVII. The Coats Of Bark.;
lines 15523-15656
start: '15523'
end: '15656'
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: Rama declares that he renounces wealth, retinue, and lordship for fourteen
years of forest banishment, requesting only a basket and spade. Kaikeyi gives
bark garments to Rama, Lakshman, and Sita. Rama and Lakshman put on the ascetic
dress; Sita is distressed and unable to arrange the bark garment until Rama ties
it over her silk. The palace women plead that Sita should remain. Vashishtha rebukes
Kaikeyi, asserts Sita’s unity with Rama and her relation to his throne, and warns
that the people, animals, and kingdom itself will follow Rama if he goes.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Rama says he renounces earthly care, wealth, lordship, royal retinue, and
asks for only a basket and spade for fourteen years of banishment.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Kaikeyi publicly gives hermit coats of bark and tells Rama to dress.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: Rama removes his fine clothing and binds the bark vesture around his waist.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:4
text: Lakshman also removes his garment and puts on ascetic rough attire in the
presence of his father.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:5
text: Sita, dressed in silk, trembles, weeps, and is unsure how to wear the bark
coat.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: obs:6
text: Rama ties the rough bark mantle on Sita over her silken clothing.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:7
text: The women cry and plead that Sita should remain in the palace while Rama goes
to the forest with Lakshman.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:8
text: Vashishtha rebukes Kaikeyi and says Sita shall not go to exile but shall guard
Rama’s throne as his self and soul.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:9
text: Vashishtha says that if Sita goes to the woods, the town, warders, families,
stores, wealth, and Rama’s brothers will follow.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: obs:10
text: Vashishtha says a land not ruled by Rama would no longer bear the kingdom’s
name, and that the woods where Rama wanders would become home and kingdom.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: obs:11
text: Vashishtha predicts birds, deer, beasts, and all but the trees will turn toward
the woods in Rama’s train.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Rama
description: Prince who renounces royal wealth and prepares to enter forest banishment
in hermit dress.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:7
- ev:11
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Kaikeyi
description: Queen who gives the bark garments and is rebuked by Vashishtha for
deceit and wrongdoing.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:9
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Lakshman
description: Rama’s brother who takes off his garment and puts on ascetic attire
to accompany Rama.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:8
- ev:10
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Sita
description: Rama’s wife, dressed in silk, distressed by the bark garment, and described
by Vashishtha as Rama’s self and soul.
role_refs:
- role:6
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:9
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Vashishtha
description: The king’s venerable guide who rebukes Kaikeyi and speaks about Sita,
Rama’s throne, and the people following Rama.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
- ev:11
- ev:12
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Palace women
description: Women who weep and ask that Sita not share Rama’s forest exile.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: The king / Rama’s father
description: Rama’s sire, present when Rama and Lakshman adopt the bark garments.
role_refs:
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Bharat and Shatrughna
description: Rama’s brothers, whom Vashishtha says will wear bark mantles and dwell
with Rama in the wild wood.
role_refs:
- role:11
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
roles:
- id: role:1
label: renouncing prince
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Rama explicitly renounces wealth, lordship, and retinue for forest banishment.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:2
label: exile-bound ascetic wearer
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Rama puts on a bark garment and asks for equipment suited to forest life.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- id: role:3
label: legitimate royal center
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Vashishtha says the land without Rama’s rule will no longer be a kingdom,
while the woods with Rama become kingdom and home.
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: role:4
label: instigator of imposed bark dress
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Kaikeyi gives the coats of bark and commands Rama to dress; Vashishtha rebukes
her for deceit.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:9
- id: role:5
label: loyal accompanying brother
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Lakshman adopts ascetic attire and the women refer to him as Rama’s companion
in the forest.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:8
- id: role:6
label: devoted wife
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Sita remains by Rama’s side and is spoken of as joined to him in one self
and common soul.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:9
- id: role:7
label: contested companion in exile
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: The women and Vashishtha debate whether Sita should go to the woods or remain
in the city.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:10
- id: role:8
label: royal spiritual counselor
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: Vashishtha is called the king’s venerable guide and delivers authoritative
rebuke and counsel.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: role:9
label: mourning palace community
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: The women cry and plead for Sita to remain.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: role:10
label: father and king
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: Rama addresses him as sire and king; Lakshman changes clothing in his presence.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
- id: role:11
label: anticipated loyal brothers
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: Vashishtha says Bharat and Shatrughna will wear bark mantles and share Rama’s
lodging.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: bark garments
literal_form: hermit coats of bark / ascetic rough attire / rough bark mantle
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:7
- ev:10
- id: sym:2
label: silken raiment
literal_form: Sita’s silk clothing and Rama’s fine raiment
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:5
- ev:7
- id: sym:3
label: basket and spade
literal_form: a little basket and a spade
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:4
label: forest or woods
literal_form: woods, woodland fare, lonely shade, wild wood
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:8
- ev:10
- ev:11
- id: sym:5
label: Rama’s throne
literal_form: the precious trust of Rama’s throne
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: sym:6
label: tears as water
literal_form: water from each tender eye
associated_figures:
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: sym:7
label: trees remaining in emptied land
literal_form: land and trees; longing trees
associated_figures: []
taxonomy_refs:
- tree
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- ev:12
- id: sym:8
label: birds, deer, and beasts
literal_form: birds, deer, and beasts from lea and fold
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Rama renounces royal possessions
summary: Rama tells his father that he gives up wealth, lordship, retinue, and earthly
joys, asking only for a basket and spade for fourteen years in the woods.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Adoption of bark garments
summary: Kaikeyi gives bark garments. Rama and Lakshman put them on, while Sita
struggles with the bark coat until Rama ties it over her silk.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: scene:3
label: Women plead for Sita to remain
summary: The women weep and argue that Sita should not share Rama’s forest hardship,
but should remain to comfort them.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: scene:4
label: Vashishtha rebukes Kaikeyi and asserts Rama-centered legitimacy
summary: Vashishtha condemns Kaikeyi, says Sita is united with Rama and tied to
his throne, and warns that people, brothers, animals, and the meaning of kingship
itself will follow Rama into the woods.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:8
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:4
- sym:5
- sym:7
- sym:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
- ev:11
- ev:12
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: renunciatory departure into exile
taxonomy_refs:
- departure
basis: Rama explicitly renounces royal wealth and prepares to leave for fourteen
years of forest banishment.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
confidence: high
cautions: The passage presents the departure preparations, not the actual journey
out of the city.
- id: motif:2
label: royal heir transformed into forest ascetic
taxonomy_refs:
- initiation
basis: Rama and Lakshman exchange royal garments for bark ascetic attire, and Sita
is also clothed in bark for the forest life.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:7
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage does not describe a formal initiation rite; the motif is inferred
from the clothing transformation and exile context.
- id: motif:3
label: devoted spouse as one self with beloved
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_marriage
- divine_beloved
basis: Vashishtha states that those joined by wedlock have one self and common soul,
and that Sita is Rama’s self and soul.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage uses marital unity language; any theological reading of divinity
is not developed within this excerpt.
- id: motif:4
label: true sovereignty follows the rightful ruler
taxonomy_refs:
- royal_legitimacy
basis: Vashishtha says the land without Rama’s reign loses the kingdom’s name, while
the woods he enters become home and kingdom, and people and animals will follow
him.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- ev:11
- ev:12
confidence: high
cautions: This is a speech prediction within the passage, not yet narrated as fulfilled
here.
- id: motif:5
label: collective loyalty to exiled hero
taxonomy_refs:
- departure
- royal_legitimacy
basis: Vashishtha predicts the town, warders, families, brothers, birds, deer, and
beasts will accompany or turn toward Rama in the woods.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- ev:12
confidence: high
cautions: The passage frames this as Vashishtha’s declaration rather than a completed
mass departure.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: quote
locator: lines 15527-15546
quote_or_summary: Rama says, “I renounce all earthly care,” rejects retinue and
lordship, asks for “a little basket and a spade,” and names “fourteen years of
banishment.”
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; short excerpt used.
- id: ev:2
type: quote
locator: lines 15547-15552
quote_or_summary: Kaikeyi takes “The hermit coats of bark” and says before the concourse,
“Dress thee now.”
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; short excerpt used.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 15553-15556
quote_or_summary: Rama takes the bark dress from Kaikeyi, casts his fine raiment
to the ground, and binds the vesture around his waist.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 15557-15561
quote_or_summary: Lakshman throws off his garment and puts on the ascetic rough
attire in the presence of his father.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 15562-15567
quote_or_summary: Sita, in silks, trembles and looks fearfully at the bark coat;
she takes it from the queen while ashamed and weeping.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: lines 15568-15577
quote_or_summary: Sita asks how hermits bind on woodland dress and repeatedly fails
to arrange the unfamiliar bark garments.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:7
type: quote
locator: lines 15578-15583
quote_or_summary: Rama “tied / The rough bark mantle on her, o’er / The silken raiment
that she wore.”
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; short excerpt used.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: lines 15584-15603
quote_or_summary: The women weep, say Sita should not bear Rama’s mournful lot,
and urge Rama to go with Lakshman while Sita remains to comfort them.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:9
type: quote
locator: lines 15604-15622
quote_or_summary: Vashishtha rebukes Kaikeyi, says “Sítá to exile shall not go,”
and declares, “Those joined by wedlock’s sweet control / Have but one self and
common soul.”
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; short excerpt used.
- id: ev:10
type: summary
locator: lines 15623-15636
quote_or_summary: Vashishtha says that if Sita leaves the kingdom for the woods,
the town, warders with wives, stores of grain, wealth, Bharat, and Shatrughna
will follow and share Rama’s lodging.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:11
type: quote
locator: lines 15637-15644
quote_or_summary: Vashishtha says, “The land which Ráma reigns not o’er / Shall
bear the kingdom’s name no more,” and that the woods Rama wanders through will
be “our home and kingdom too.”
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; short excerpt used.
- id: ev:12
type: quote
locator: lines 15651-15656
quote_or_summary: Vashishtha predicts “Birds, deer, and beasts” will turn to the
woods in Rama’s train, leaving “naught save longing trees.”
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; short excerpt used.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: uncertain
notes: Literal extraction is based directly on the supplied passage. Motif labels
are candidate classifications from the supplied taxonomy and require human review,
especially where clothing change is read as initiation or marital unity is linked
to sacred marriage/divine beloved 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 comparison claims were added because the excerpt itself does not make an explicit cross-textual or cross-traditional comparison.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:hindu-ramayana-griffith-gutenberg__l15523-l15656
passage_sha256=2c33e236d8f4536627bc3c7e3ec32b30bfde698e386b2f82bd3610c92b687939