batch.motif.hindu-ramayana-griffith-gutenberg-l25997-l26140
---
record_id: batch.motif.hindu-ramayana-griffith-gutenberg-l25997-l26140
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
passage_locator:
label: Canto CIV. The Meeting With The Queens. / Canto CIX. The Praises Of Truth.
/ Canto CXI. Counsel To Bharat. / Canto CXII. The Sandals.; lines 25997-26140
start: '25997'
end: '26140'
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: Anasúyá gives Sítá divine garments, gems, balsam, and garlands, then asks
her to recount how Ráma won her hand. Sítá narrates that King Janak found her
while ploughing sacred ground, accepted her as his daughter after a heavenly voice
confirmed it, and later set a bridegroom test involving a divine bow. Many suitors
failed to lift or bend the bow. Ráma, arriving with Viśvámitra and Lakshmaṇ, strung
and broke it. Janak then gave Sítá to Ráma after Daśaratha's consent, and Urmilá
was given to Lakshmaṇ.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Anasúyá gives Sítá a precious robe, gems, balsam, and garlands, and says the
balsam will enhance her beauty.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Sítá accepts the gifts and sits reverently at Anasúyá’s feet.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: Anasúyá asks Sítá to tell how Raghu’s son won her hand among assembled suitors.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:4
text: Sítá says King Janak found her as a child when his ploughshare cleft sacred
land prepared for rites.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:5
text: Janak accepted the found infant as his daughter, and a voice from the sky
confirmed that she should be styled his own child.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:6
text: Janak later worried about finding a suitable bridegroom for Sítá because she
was not born from a mortal woman.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:7
text: Janak decided to hold a Bride’s Election and use a heavenly bow once bestowed
by Varuṇ as the test.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:8
text: The assembled suitors could not manage the enormous bow and withdrew humbled.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:9
text: Ráma arrived with Viśvámitra and Lakshmaṇ and was shown the bow.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:10
text: Ráma strung and drew the bow, which broke with a crash compared to thunderbolts.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: obs:11
text: Janak offered Sítá to Ráma with pure water, but Ráma waited for his father’s
consent before accepting.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: obs:12
text: After Daśaratha was brought to Janak’s court, Sítá was given to Ráma and Urmilá
to Lakshmaṇ.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Sítá
description: Maithil spouse of Ráma; narrator of her own foundling birth and marriage;
found by Janak while ploughing sacred ground.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:12
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Anasúyá
description: Saintly matron and devotee who gives Sítá divine gifts and asks for
the story of her marriage.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: King Janak
description: King of Videha who finds Sítá, raises her as his daughter, sets the
bow test, and gives her to Ráma.
role_refs:
- role:5
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:7
- ev:11
- ev:12
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Ráma
description: Son of Raghu and Daśaratha who strings and breaks Janak’s bow and receives
Sítá as bride after paternal consent.
role_refs:
- role:7
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
- ev:11
- ev:12
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Lakshmaṇ
description: Ráma’s brother, present at Janak’s court, later given Urmilá as bride.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:12
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Viśvámitra
description: Sage who arrives with Ráma and Lakshmaṇ and asks Janak to show them
the bow.
role_refs:
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Varuṇ
description: Divine figure said to have bestowed the quiver, shafts, and heavenly
bow on Janak’s ancestor.
role_refs:
- role:11
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Daśaratha
description: Aged monarch and Ráma’s father, whose view Ráma awaits before accepting
Sítá.
role_refs:
- role:12
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- ev:12
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: Urmilá
description: Sítá’s sister, given by Janak to be Lakshmaṇ’s bride.
role_refs:
- role:13
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
- id: fig:10
name_or_label: Assembled suitors
description: Princes or lords who try or view the bow but cannot manage it and withdraw
humbled.
role_refs:
- role:14
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:8
roles:
- id: role:1
label: recipient of ascetic gifts
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Sítá accepts Anasúyá’s robe, gems, balsam, and garlands.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: role:2
label: foundling daughter
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Sítá is found in the earth by Janak and accepted as his daughter.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: role:3
label: bride in bow contest
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Janak declares that whoever can manage the bow shall be Sítá’s husband.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: role:4
label: ascetic donor and questioner
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Anasúyá gives Sítá divine gifts and asks her to recount the marriage contest.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- id: role:5
label: adoptive royal father
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Janak raises the found infant as his daughter.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: role:6
label: setter of bridegroom test
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Janak announces that the man who can manage the bow shall marry Sítá.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: role:7
label: successful bow hero
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Ráma strings, draws, and breaks the bow after others fail.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:10
- id: role:8
label: bridegroom awaiting paternal consent
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Ráma declines the offered gift until his father’s mind is known.
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: role:9
label: brother and paired bridegroom
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: Lakshmaṇ arrives beside Ráma and later receives Urmilá as bride.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:12
- id: role:10
label: sage presenter
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: Viśvámitra brings Ráma and Lakshmaṇ and requests that Janak show the bow.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: role:11
label: divine donor of weapon
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: Varuṇ is said to have bestowed the heavenly bow and arrows on Janak’s ancestor.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: role:12
label: father whose consent is sought
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: Ráma waits for Daśaratha’s view before accepting Sítá.
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: role:13
label: sister bride
assigned_to:
- fig:9
basis: Urmilá is given by Janak to be Lakshmaṇ’s bride.
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
- id: role:14
label: unsuccessful suitors
assigned_to:
- fig:10
basis: The suitors cannot manage the bow and withdraw humbled.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: divine adornment gifts
literal_form: Heavenly robe, gems, balsam, and garlands given by Anasúyá to Sítá.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: sym:2
label: plough-cleft sacred earth
literal_form: Sacred land cleft by Janak’s ploughshare, from which Sítá is found
as a child.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:3
label: heavenly bow
literal_form: A tremendous bow of mountain size, formerly bestowed by Varuṇ, used
as the bridegroom test.
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:7
- fig:10
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:10
- id: sym:4
label: pure water of bridal gift
literal_form: Pure water used when Janak offers Sítá to Ráma.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: sym:5
label: heavenly confirming voice
literal_form: A voice from the sky confirming that the found child should be Janak’s
own.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Anasúyá’s gifts to Sítá
summary: Anasúyá gives Sítá divine garments, gems, balsam, and garlands; Sítá accepts
and sits at her feet.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: scene:2
label: Request for the marriage story
summary: Anasúyá asks Sítá to recount how Ráma won her hand among the gathered suitors.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:4
- fig:10
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: scene:3
label: Sítá found in the furrow
summary: Janak, ploughing sacred ground, finds Sítá as a dust-covered infant; he
accepts her as daughter, and a voice from the sky confirms this status.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: scene:4
label: Janak establishes the bow test
summary: Because Sítá is not born from a mortal woman, Janak seeks a fitting bridegroom
and announces that whoever can manage the divine bow shall be her husband.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:7
- fig:10
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: scene:5
label: Ráma breaks the bow
summary: Ráma arrives with Viśvámitra and Lakshmaṇ, sees the bow, strings and draws
it, and the bow snaps with a thunderous crash.
figure_refs:
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
- id: scene:6
label: Marriage consent and paired marriages
summary: Janak offers Sítá to Ráma with pure water; Ráma awaits Daśaratha’s consent,
after which Janak gives Sítá to Ráma and Urmilá to Lakshmaṇ.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:8
- fig:9
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- ev:12
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: miraculous child found from the earth
taxonomy_refs:
- miraculous_child
- sacred_birth
basis: Sítá is found as an infant when Janak’s ploughshare cleaves sacred ground,
and a heavenly voice confirms her status as his daughter.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
confidence: high
cautions: The passage presents Sítá as found from the earth rather than describing
a conventional birth process.
- id: motif:2
label: bride won by impossible weapon test
taxonomy_refs:
- royal_legitimacy
- sacred_marriage
basis: Janak sets a public bridegroom test with a divine bow that other suitors
cannot manage; Ráma alone strings and breaks it and gains Sítá as bride.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:10
- ev:12
confidence: high
cautions: The available taxonomy has no specific weapon-test motif; the listed references
are broader interpretive families.
- id: motif:3
label: divine or heavenly validation of royal kinship
taxonomy_refs:
- royal_legitimacy
- divine_parent_child
basis: A voice from the sky validates Janak’s adoption of Sítá as his own child.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
confidence: medium
cautions: The voice confirms kinship but the passage does not identify the speaker.
- id: motif:4
label: sacred exchange in marriage rite
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_exchange
- sacred_marriage
basis: Janak offers Sítá to Ráma with pure water, and the marriage proceeds after
paternal consent.
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- ev:12
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage describes the rite briefly and does not explain its ritual
mechanics.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 25997-26017
quote_or_summary: Anasúyá offers Sítá a heavenly robe, gems, precious balsam, and
beauty-enhancing gifts.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 26018-26024
quote_or_summary: Sítá takes the balsam, gems, divine robe, and garlands, then sits
reverently at Anasúyá’s feet.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 26025-26038
quote_or_summary: Anasúyá asks Sítá to tell how Raghu’s son won her hand among gathered
suitors.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:4
type: quote
locator: lines 26045-26052
quote_or_summary: "“When, as the ploughshare cleft the earth, / Child of the king
I leapt to birth.”"
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short excerpt.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 26053-26066
quote_or_summary: Janak embraces the found infant as his daughter, and a sky voice
says the child is justly to be styled his own.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: lines 26067-26086
quote_or_summary: As Sítá reaches marriage age, Janak is troubled because she is
no daughter of a mortal woman and he sees no fitting bridegroom.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: lines 26087-26106
quote_or_summary: Janak plans a Bride’s Election and declares that whoever can manage
the divine bow bestowed by Varuṇ shall be Sítá’s husband.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: lines 26107-26110
quote_or_summary: The suitors view the mountain-sized bow hopelessly and withdraw
humbled.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: lines 26111-26124
quote_or_summary: Viśvámitra arrives with Ráma and Lakshmaṇ and tells Janak that
the princes wish to see the strong bow.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:10
type: summary
locator: lines 26125-26134
quote_or_summary: Ráma gazes at the bow, strings and draws it, and it breaks under
his heroic force with a thunderous crash.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:11
type: summary
locator: lines 26135-26139
quote_or_summary: Janak offers Sítá to Ráma with pure water, but Ráma declines until
he knows his father’s mind; messengers bring Daśaratha.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:12
type: summary
locator: lines 26140-26148
quote_or_summary: Janak gives Sítá to Ráma and gives Urmilá to Lakshmaṇ; Sítá says
Ráma won her hand from the princes of the land.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: uncertain
notes: The narrative sequence and figures are explicit in the passage. Motif taxonomy
assignments are broader than the specific bow-test and furrow-found-child details.
No comparison claims are made because the passage itself does not explicitly compare
traditions or motif families.
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: |-
Used only the supplied passage and metadata; no external parallels added.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:hindu-ramayana-griffith-gutenberg__l25997-l26140
passage_sha256=79d5f0776346adb0e8cf4b3d0481055e2d10ad7cb740a2dde6dafd50f4e41e35