batch.motif.hindu-ramayana-griffith-gutenberg-l1749-l1894
---
record_id: batch.motif.hindu-ramayana-griffith-gutenberg-l1749-l1894
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
passage_locator:
label: Canto III. The Argument. / Canto IV. The Rhapsodists. / Canto VI. The King.
/ Canto VII. The Ministers.; lines 1749-1894
start: '1749'
end: '1894'
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: The passage describes the king’s priests and ministers as wise, just, restrained,
and effective in governance. It then turns to the childless king’s desire for
a son, his proposal to perform a votive horse sacrifice, and Sumantra’s report
of an old prophecy concerning the ascetic Rishyaśring, whose arrival and marriage
to Lomapād’s daughter are prescribed as the remedy for a drought-stricken kingdom.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: 'The king has two named sages as ministers and priests: Vaśishṭha and Vámadeva.'
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Eight other named lords stand around the king and are assigned areas such
as war, revenue, expense, right, law, and justice.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: Sumantra is described as a sage skilled in urging the car and holding high
station.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:4
text: The ministers are described as trained in knowledge, restrained in passion
and senses, benevolent, just, truthful, and skilled in counsel.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:5
text: The ministers use secret spies to know what has happened or may happen in
foreign lands and their own realm.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:6
text: The kingdom is described as free from thieves, impurity, loose life, evil
fame, and seducers of another’s wife.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:7
text: The king rules justly with wise lords around his throne and gains the love
of all men.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:8
text: The childless king longs for offspring and lacks a son to continue his royal
race.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:9
text: The king considers slaying a votive steed so that a son might be granted in
return.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:10
text: Sumantra tells the king of an old prediction made by Sanatkumár to sages that
a son would arise from the king’s ancient line.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: obs:11
text: The prophecy names Vibháṇdak, of Kaśyap’s race, as the father of the famous
Rishyaśring.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: obs:12
text: Rishyaśring is said to live in the woods with deer, to know no mortal except
his father, and to follow strict rules for young Brahman ascetics.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
- id: obs:13
text: Rishyaśring is associated with stern life, penance, nursing the holy fire,
and obeying his father.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:13
- id: obs:14
text: King Lomapád is said to rule in Anga, and his folly brings a plague on the
land.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:14
- id: obs:15
text: The plague in Lomapád’s land is described as many years without rain, causing
grievous drought and ruin.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:15
- id: obs:16
text: The priests advise Lomapád to bring Vibháṇdak’s child by persuasion, capture,
or guile, and then wed the boy to the king’s daughter.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:16
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: the king / childless king
description: A just monarch with wise ministers who longs for a son to continue
his royal race.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:9
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Vaśishṭha
description: A holy sage, minister, priest, and faithful adviser to the king.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Vámadeva
description: A holy sage, minister, priest, and Scripture-wise adviser to the king.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: eight other lords
description: Jayanta, Vijay, Dhrishṭi, Siddhárth, Arthasádhak, Dharmapál, Aśok,
and another unnamed in the group, described as wise counsellors with administrative
and judicial duties.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:4
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Sumantra
description: A sage and royal counsellor, skilled in urging the car, who replies
to the king by recounting an old prophecy.
role_refs:
- role:4
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:10
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Sanatkumár
description: A saint who foretold to sages that a son would spring from the king’s
ancient line.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Vibháṇdak
description: A holy man of Kaśyap’s race and father of Rishyaśring.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- ev:12
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Rishyaśring
description: The famous son of Vibháṇdak, raised in the woods with deer, isolated
from mortals except his father, and devoted to ascetic discipline.
role_refs:
- role:8
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- ev:12
- ev:13
- ev:16
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: Lomapád
description: A king seated on the throne of Anga whose folly brings drought and
ruin upon his land.
role_refs:
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:14
- ev:15
- ev:16
- id: fig:10
name_or_label: Lomapád’s priests / Brahmans
description: Holy men asked to declare a remedy for the drought and who advise bringing
Rishyaśring.
role_refs:
- role:11
evidence_refs:
- ev:16
- id: fig:11
name_or_label: Lomapád’s daughter
description: The daughter whom the priests say should be duly wedded to Vibháṇdak’s
child after he is brought to the kingdom.
role_refs:
- role:12
evidence_refs:
- ev:16
roles:
- id: role:1
label: just monarch
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The monarch is said to reign justly, gain all men’s love, and scan distant
realms with trusty agents.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: role:2
label: childless king seeking offspring
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The king pines for offspring and considers a votive steed sacrifice for a
son.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
- id: role:3
label: priestly adviser
assigned_to:
- fig:2
- fig:3
basis: Vaśishṭha and Vámadeva are named as holy sages, ministers, and priests to
the king.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:4
label: royal counsellor
assigned_to:
- fig:4
- fig:5
basis: The lords and Sumantra serve in counsel and administration around the king.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: role:5
label: speaker of prophetic report
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: Sumantra replies to the king by narrating a tale and old prediction.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: role:6
label: foretelling saint
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: Sanatkumár is said to have foretold the future birth of a son from the king’s
line.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: role:7
label: ascetic father
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: Vibháṇdak is named as the father of Rishyaśring and the only mortal known
to him.
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- ev:12
- id: role:8
label: isolated forest ascetic
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: Rishyaśring is raised in the wood with deer, knows only his father, and follows
strict Brahman ascetic rules.
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
- ev:13
- id: role:9
label: sought ritual remedy
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: The priests advise that Vibháṇdak’s child be brought to the drought-stricken
kingdom and married to the king’s daughter.
evidence_refs:
- ev:16
- id: role:10
label: king under drought-plague
assigned_to:
- fig:9
basis: Lomapád’s folly brings a plague and drought on his land.
evidence_refs:
- ev:14
- ev:15
- id: role:11
label: priestly diagnosticians
assigned_to:
- fig:10
basis: The priests are asked to declare how to expiate and stay the plague, and
they give a remedy.
evidence_refs:
- ev:16
- id: role:12
label: royal bride in prescribed marriage
assigned_to:
- fig:11
basis: The priests instruct that Rishyaśring be duly wedded to Lomapád’s daughter.
evidence_refs:
- ev:16
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: votive steed
literal_form: A horse proposed for sacrificial slaying to obtain a son.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: sym:2
label: holy fire
literal_form: The sacred fire tended by Rishyaśring as part of his ascetic duty.
associated_figures:
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:13
- id: sym:3
label: drought / withheld rain
literal_form: Many years without rain, causing ruin in Lomapád’s land.
associated_figures:
- fig:9
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:15
- id: sym:4
label: forest hermitage life
literal_form: The wood where Rishyaśring lives with deer and apart from other mortals.
associated_figures:
- fig:7
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
- id: sym:5
label: royal daughter as bride
literal_form: Lomapád’s daughter, whom the priests prescribe to wed to Rishyaśring.
associated_figures:
- fig:8
- fig:9
- fig:11
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:16
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: The king’s wise council
summary: Named priests, lords, and Sumantra surround the king; they are described
as restrained, just, truthful, well informed, and effective in counsel and administration.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: scene:2
label: Just rule and social order
summary: With the ministers around his throne, the monarch rules justly, gains affection,
and presides over a kingdom portrayed as orderly, peaceful, and free of crime
and impurity.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:4
- fig:5
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: scene:3
label: Childless king proposes a votive horse sacrifice
summary: The king, lacking a son to continue his royal race, considers slaying a
votive steed so that a son might be granted and asks his counsellors for aid.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
- id: scene:4
label: Sumantra recounts the old prophecy
summary: Sumantra tells the king that Sanatkumár had foretold to sages that a son
would arise from the king’s ancient line, and the prophecy introduces Vibháṇdak
and Rishyaśring.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:8
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- ev:11
- ev:12
- id: scene:5
label: Rishyaśring’s ascetic discipline
summary: Rishyaśring is described as an isolated forest ascetic who tends the holy
fire, obeys his father, and practices strict penance.
figure_refs:
- fig:7
- fig:8
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
- ev:13
- id: scene:6
label: Drought in Anga and the prescribed remedy
summary: Lomapád’s folly causes a drought in Anga; priests tell him to bring Rishyaśring
by persuasion, capture, or guile and marry him to the royal daughter.
figure_refs:
- fig:8
- fig:9
- fig:10
- fig:11
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:14
- ev:15
- ev:16
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: just kingship supported by wise ministers
taxonomy_refs:
- royal_legitimacy
- wisdom
basis: The passage emphasizes the king’s legitimate and successful rule through
learned priests, counsellors, justice, surveillance, truthfulness, and public
affection.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
confidence: high
cautions: This motif is based on the passage’s political idealization, not on a
coronation or explicit divine investiture scene.
- id: motif:2
label: childless ruler seeks dynastic continuation
taxonomy_refs:
- royal_legitimacy
- sacred_birth
basis: The king lacks a son to continue his royal race and longs for offspring;
an old prophecy says a son will arise from his ancient line.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:10
confidence: high
cautions: The passage anticipates birth but does not yet narrate the conception
or birth itself.
- id: motif:3
label: sacrifice for offspring
taxonomy_refs:
- sacrifice
- sacred_birth
basis: The king considers slaying a votive steed so that a son might be granted
in return.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
confidence: high
cautions: The passage reports the plan, not the completed sacrificial rite.
- id: motif:4
label: prophecy of royal offspring
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_birth
- miraculous_child
- royal_legitimacy
basis: Sanatkumár’s old prediction states that a son will spring from the king’s
ancient line after the years come round.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
confidence: medium
cautions: The prophecy concerns royal offspring, but the passage does not yet describe
the child as miraculous beyond being foretold.
- id: motif:5
label: isolated holy youth as ritual remedy
taxonomy_refs:
- initiation
- wisdom
basis: Rishyaśring is an isolated ascetic raised in the forest, and priests prescribe
bringing him to the drought-stricken kingdom and marrying him to the royal daughter.
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
- ev:13
- ev:15
- ev:16
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage implies his ritual importance but does not yet narrate the
outcome of his arrival.
- id: motif:6
label: drought caused by royal fault and addressed by priestly counsel
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_judgment
- sacred_exchange
basis: Lomapád’s folly brings a plague of drought; priests identify a remedy involving
the arrival and marriage of Rishyaśring.
evidence_refs:
- ev:14
- ev:15
- ev:16
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage does not explicitly name a deity as the cause of drought,
so divine judgment is only a cautious taxonomy fit.
- id: motif:7
label: royal marriage as remedy for crisis
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_marriage
- sacred_exchange
basis: The priests instruct Lomapád to wed his daughter to Rishyaśring after bringing
him into the kingdom as the cure for drought.
evidence_refs:
- ev:16
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage prescribes the marriage but does not yet narrate the wedding
or its effects.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: quote
locator: lines 1749-1752
quote_or_summary: "“Two sages, holy saints, had he, / His ministers and priests
to be: / Vaśishṭha... / And Vámadeva...”"
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short excerpt used for evidence.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 1753-1761
quote_or_summary: Eight lords are named around the king, with responsibilities for
war, expense, revenue, right, law, and justice.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized evidence.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 1762-1763
quote_or_summary: Sumantra is described as a sage skilled in urging the car and
holding high station.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized evidence.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 1764-1787
quote_or_summary: The ministers are trained, self-restrained, modest, benevolent,
fair, just, trusted by the people, and gentle in speech.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized evidence.
- id: ev:5
type: quote
locator: lines 1788-1793
quote_or_summary: "“In foreign lands or in their own / Whatever passed, to them
was known. / By secret spies they timely knew...”"
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short excerpt used for evidence.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: lines 1805-1814
quote_or_summary: The kingdom is described as lacking thieves, impurity, loose life,
evil fame, or adulterous tempters, and as enjoying calm rest by caste and task.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized evidence.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: lines 1815-1824
quote_or_summary: The monarch reigns justly with wise lords around his throne, gains
all hearts, and scans distant realms with agents like the sun’s beams covering
the land.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized evidence.
- id: ev:8
type: quote
locator: lines 1838-1841
quote_or_summary: "“The childless king for offspring pined. / No son had he his
name to grace, / Transmitter of his royal race.”"
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short excerpt used for evidence.
- id: ev:9
type: quote
locator: lines 1842-1845
quote_or_summary: "“A votive steed ’twere good to slay, / So might a son the gift
repay.”"
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short excerpt used for evidence.
- id: ev:10
type: summary
locator: lines 1846-1858
quote_or_summary: Sumantra tells the king that Sanatkumár foretold to sages that
a son would arise from the king’s ancient line.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized evidence.
- id: ev:11
type: summary
locator: lines 1859-1863
quote_or_summary: The prophecy names Vibháṇdak of Kaśyap’s race and says that the
famous Rishyaśring will be his son.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized evidence.
- id: ev:12
type: summary
locator: lines 1864-1873
quote_or_summary: Rishyaśring will dwell in the wood with deer, know no mortal except
his father, and obey strict rules for young Brahman ascetics.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized evidence.
- id: ev:13
type: summary
locator: lines 1874-1878
quote_or_summary: The world will hear of Rishyaśring’s stern life, penance, care
for the holy fire, and obedience to his father.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized evidence.
- id: ev:14
type: summary
locator: lines 1879-1883
quote_or_summary: Lomapád is said to sit on Anga’s throne, and his folly brings
a plague upon the land.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized evidence.
- id: ev:15
type: quote
locator: lines 1884-1885
quote_or_summary: "“No rain for many a year shall fall / And grievous drought shall
ruin all.”"
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short excerpt used for evidence.
- id: ev:16
type: summary
locator: lines 1886-1894
quote_or_summary: Lomapád asks priests how to stay the plague; they advise bringing
Vibháṇdak’s child by persuasion, capture, or guile and wedding him to the king’s
daughter.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized evidence.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: high
notes: Literal extraction is strong for figures and actions in the supplied passage.
Motif assignments are cautious where the passage only anticipates later events,
such as birth, marriage, and the drought remedy.
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 passage itself does not explicitly compare these events to another tradition or broader motif family beyond the available taxonomy tagging.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:hindu-ramayana-griffith-gutenberg__l1749-l1894
passage_sha256=4fd1d0977f44af5e05421323a25d018516e85f009c8c76a42e8378a744dd459e