batch.motif.hindu-ramayana-griffith-gutenberg-l2617-l2782
---
record_id: batch.motif.hindu-ramayana-griffith-gutenberg-l2617-l2782
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
passage_locator:
label: Canto X. Rishyasring Invited. / Canto XI. The Sacrifice Decreed. / Canto
XII. The Sacrifice Begun. / Canto XIII. The Sacrifice Finished.; lines 2617-2782
start: '2617'
end: '2782'
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: After the wandering horse returns, Daśaratha’s horse sacrifice begins on
the northern bank of the Sarjú under Rishyaśring and other Brahman priests. The
rite includes prescribed baths, hymns, offerings to Indra and the gods, large-scale
feeding and gifts, learned Brahman activity, erection of gilded sacrificial posts,
construction of an eagle-shaped altar, binding of victims, and the ritual killing
and offering of the consecrated horse. Queen Kauśalyá participates in the horse
rite in connection with the desire for a son.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: The wandering horse is brought back after the year has completed its course,
and the rite begins on the northern bank of the Sarjú.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Rishyaśring and Brahman priests guide and perform the rite according to scriptural
and Vedic rules.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- id: obs:3
text: The ritual sequence includes prescribed baths, feeding flames for Upasads,
squeezing plant juice, hymns, and offerings of holy oil to the gods.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:4
text: Food, drink, robes, and service are distributed widely to ascetics, beggars,
strangers, women, the poor, the old, the young, Brahmans, and even animals.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:5
text: Brahmans engage in learned debate between rites, and the priests are described
as vow-keeping, Veda-knowing, and eloquent.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:6
text: Twenty-one sacrificial posts made from specified woods are gilded with gold,
decorated with ribbons, flowers, and scents, and fixed firmly in the earth.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:7
text: A sacrificial altar is raised in the shape of an eagle with golden wings and
includes twice nine pits arranged for particular gods.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:8
text: Three hundred victims, including birds, land and water creatures, reptiles,
snakes, herbs, and the consecrated horse, are bound as prescribed by scripture.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:9
text: Queen Kauśalyá circles the sprinkled horse, adorns it with wreaths, strikes
and kills it with three swords, and remains beside the dead horse through the
night in connection with gaining a son.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:10
text: The horse’s marrow is boiled, the king smells the steam, and priests place
the horse’s severed members into the sacred flame.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:11
text: The Offering of the Steed lasts three days according to law, and the Chatushṭom
begins the rite.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Daśaratha
description: The king who decrees and ordains the great horse sacrifice and receives
the third ritual water-shedding on his head.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:7
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Rishyaśring
description: The priestly guide of the rite who joins other twice-born priests in
blessing Kauśalyá.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:6
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Brahman priests
description: Priests who know scripture, perform the prescribed rites, debate between
rites, prepare posts and altar, and cast offerings into the flame.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:7
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Indra and the gods
description: Divine recipients invited to share in the rite and given their portions
and offerings.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:5
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Kauśalyá
description: The queen who circles, garlands, strikes, and slays the horse, then
remains beside the dead horse through the night in hope of gaining a son.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Other queens
description: Queens led by priests to touch the steed and attend Kauśalyá.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Consecrated sacrificial horse
description: The returned wandering steed devoted to the host of gods, sprinkled,
garlanded, slain, and later offered in parts into the sacred flame.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Servants
description: Fairly dressed attendants with gold and jeweled earrings who wait upon
Brahman guests.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
roles:
- id: role:1
label: royal patron of sacrifice
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Daśaratha is the king who decrees and ordains the great rite and is ritually
purified during it.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: role:2
label: ritual officiants
assigned_to:
- fig:2
- fig:3
basis: Rishyaśring guides the forms, and Brahman priests perform, prepare, bless,
and offer according to scriptural rules.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:7
- id: role:3
label: divine recipients
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Indra and the gods are addressed, invited to share in the rite, and given
their portions and offerings.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:5
- id: role:4
label: queen participant seeking a son
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: Kauśalyá performs actions around the horse and stays by it through the night
explicitly in connection with gaining a son.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: role:5
label: attending royal women
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: Other queens are led by priests to touch the steed and aid Kauśalyá.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: role:6
label: sacrificial victim
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: The steed is consecrated to the gods, killed, processed, and offered into
the sacred flame.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: role:7
label: ritual hospitality attendants
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: Servants wait on Brahman guests during the abundant feeding attached to the
rite.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: sacrificial horse
literal_form: Returned wandering steed devoted to the gods, sprinkled, garlanded,
slain, and offered.
associated_figures:
- fig:7
- fig:5
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: sym:2
label: sacred flame
literal_form: Flames fed during rites and sacred fire receiving holy oil and the
horse’s severed members.
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:7
- id: sym:3
label: ritual water
literal_form: Pure water shed on Daśaratha’s head during the prescribed bathing
sequence.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:4
label: gilded sacrificial posts
literal_form: Twenty-one octagonal wooden stakes, each twenty-one cubits tall, gilded
with gold and decorated with ribbons, flowers, and scent.
associated_figures:
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs:
- tree
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:5
label: eagle-shaped altar
literal_form: Sacrificial altar shaped like an eagle with golden wings and twice
nine pits.
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: sym:6
label: abundant ritual food
literal_form: Heaps of food like hills and lakes of sauce distributed to diverse
attendees.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: sym:7
label: three swords
literal_form: Three swords with which Kauśalyá strikes and kills the consecrated
horse.
associated_figures:
- fig:5
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Return of the horse and opening rites
summary: After the horse returns at the end of the year, Daśaratha’s planned rite
begins on the Sarjú’s northern bank under Rishyaśring and the Brahman priests,
with baths, hymns, and offerings to Indra and the gods.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Ritual hospitality and Brahman order
summary: The rite includes broad distribution of food, drink, and robes; Brahmans
are served on gold and silver plates, praise the king, debate between rites, and
are described as qualified in Vedic knowledge.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:8
symbol_refs:
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: scene:3
label: Construction of posts and eagle altar
summary: Priests prepare and erect twenty-one gilded wooden sacrificial posts and
build an eagle-shaped altar with golden wings and designated pits for gods.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: scene:4
label: Binding of victims and queen’s horse rite
summary: Victims are bound according to scriptural prescription; the consecrated
horse is sprinkled, garlanded, circled, slain by Kauśalyá with three swords, and
watched by her through the night for the purpose of gaining a son.
figure_refs:
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: scene:5
label: Offering of the horse into fire
summary: The horse’s marrow is boiled, Daśaratha smells its steam, and sixteen priests
cast the prepared severed members of the horse into the sacred flame; the horse
offering lasts three days.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: regulated royal sacrifice
taxonomy_refs:
- sacrifice
basis: The passage centers on a royal horse sacrifice performed according to Vedic
and scriptural rules, with consecrated victims, altar, posts, priests, divine
portions, and offerings into fire.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:7
- ev:8
confidence: high
cautions: The extraction describes the rite as presented in this passage and does
not infer details beyond the given translation.
- id: motif:2
label: sacred exchange with gods and community
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_exchange
basis: Offerings are given to Indra and the gods, while food, drink, and robes are
distributed generously to humans and animals gathered at the rite.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage shows reciprocal ritual giving, but it does not explicitly
state a theological exchange formula.
- id: motif:3
label: ritual action for desired birth
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_birth
basis: Kauśalyá’s actions beside the dead sacrificial horse are explicitly connected
to the aim of gaining a son.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage anticipates a desired son but does not yet narrate conception
or birth.
- id: motif:4
label: royal legitimacy through public rite
taxonomy_refs:
- royal_legitimacy
basis: The king sponsors a large, highly regulated public rite involving priests,
gods, guests, gifts, and visible ritual order.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
confidence: low
cautions: The passage emphasizes royal sponsorship and scale, but it does not explicitly
state that legitimacy is created or confirmed by the rite.
- id: motif:5
label: ritual abundance and communal feeding
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The passage repeatedly stresses that no human or beast lacks food, with abundant
meals, sauces, robes, and service distributed during the sacrifice.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
confidence: high
cautions: No specific supplied taxonomy reference directly corresponds to ritual
hospitality or abundance.
comparison_claims:
- id: claim:1
claim: The passage fits the broad sacrifice motif family because it narrates a prescribed
offering to gods through priests, victims, altar, and sacred flame.
claim_level: same_motif
target: sacrifice motif family
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:5
- ev:7
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: high
limitations: This is a motif-family classification, not a claim about historical
contact with another tradition.
- id: claim:2
claim: The queen’s participation in the horse rite has the same ritual function
as a sacred-birth pattern, since the stated purpose is gaining a son.
claim_level: same_function
target: sacred_birth motif family
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: medium
limitations: The passage gives the intention of son-gaining but does not include
the later birth outcome within this line range.
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 2617-2642
quote_or_summary: The year ends, the horse returns, and the rite begins on the Sarjú’s
northern strand; Rishyaśring and Brahmans conduct prescribed rites, baths, hymns,
offerings to Indra and the gods, and holy oil to feed the flame.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized for extraction.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 2643-2687
quote_or_summary: The rite includes abundant feeding and gifts for ascetics, beggars,
orphans, women, strangers, Brahmans, the poor, old, young, and animals; Brahmans
are served on gold and silver plates and bless the king.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized for extraction.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 2688-2699
quote_or_summary: Between rites Brahmans engage in learned argument; the priests
are described as vow-keeping, Veda-knowing, trained in six sciences, and eloquent.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized for extraction.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 2700-2731
quote_or_summary: Twenty-one sacrificial posts of specified woods are prepared by
scripture-trained priests, gilded with gold, made twenty-one cubits tall, decorated
with ribbons, flowers, and scent, and fixed firmly in the earth.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized for extraction.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 2732-2745
quote_or_summary: A sacrificial altar is raised in the shape of an eagle with golden
wings and twice nine pits; victims including birds, water and land creatures,
snakes, reptiles, herbs, and the horse are bound as prescribed.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized for extraction.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: lines 2746-2760
quote_or_summary: Kauśalyá circles and garlands the sprinkled horse, slays it with
three swords, remains beside the dead horse through the night to gain a son, and
is attended by other queens and priests who bless her.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized for extraction.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: lines 2761-2773
quote_or_summary: A priest boils the horse’s marrow; Daśaratha smells the steam;
sixteen priests cast the prepared severed members of the horse into the sacred
flame, while other victims burn on separate piles.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized for extraction.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: lines 2774-2782
quote_or_summary: The Offering of the Steed lasts three days as decreed by law,
and the Chatushṭom begins the rite.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized for extraction.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: medium
notes: Literal ritual details are explicit in the supplied passage. Motif labels
involving sacred birth and royal legitimacy require caution because the line range
gives ritual intention and royal sponsorship but not later narrative outcomes
or explicit political interpretation.
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 text, metadata, and available taxonomy references. No external ritual details were added.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:hindu-ramayana-griffith-gutenberg__l2617-l2782
passage_sha256=6c21c22cd3c48bd7ed6781a1390b01f615ea7e7140a2053e46aa6c705f707f0b