batch.motif.hindu-ramayana-griffith-gutenberg-l28687-l28811
---
record_id: batch.motif.hindu-ramayana-griffith-gutenberg-l28687-l28811
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
passage_locator:
label: Canto XI. Agastya. / Canto XII. The Heavenly Bow. / Canto XVI. Winter. /
Canto XVIII. The Mutilation.; lines 28687-28811
start: '28687'
end: '28811'
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: Śūrpaṇakhā, driven by desire, approaches Rāma. Rāma says he has Sītā as
his wife and directs her toward Lakṣmaṇ. Lakṣmaṇ replies mockingly and redirects
her back to Rāma. Believing the mockery, Śūrpaṇakhā threatens to devour Sītā and
rushes at her. Rāma stops the attack and orders Lakṣmaṇ to mark and disfigure
the fiend. Lakṣmaṇ cuts off her nose and ears. Bleeding and shrieking, she flees
through the wilderness to Janasthān, where she falls before Khara and reports
what happened.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Rāma tells Śūrpaṇakhā that Sītā is his wife and that Lakṣmaṇ is unmarried.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Rāma suggests that Śūrpaṇakhā take Lakṣmaṇ as her lover or husband.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: Śūrpaṇakhā leaves Rāma and asks Lakṣmaṇ to take her as his bride and roam
with her in Daṇḍak forest.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: Lakṣmaṇ says he is bound to his brother’s will and tells Śūrpaṇakhā to become
Rāma’s younger bride instead.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:5
text: The narrator states that Lakṣmaṇ’s flattering speech is a scornful jest and
that Śūrpaṇakhā does not recognize it as mockery.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:6
text: Śūrpaṇakhā returns to Rāma and threatens to devour Sītā in order to remove
her as a rival.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:7
text: Śūrpaṇakhā rushes toward Sītā, who is described as fawn-eyed and Maithil.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:8
text: Rāma stops Śūrpaṇakhā’s purpose and rebukes Lakṣmaṇ for jesting with a savage
and wrathful creature.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:9
text: Rāma orders Lakṣmaṇ not to let the fiend escape without a disfiguring mark.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:10
text: Lakṣmaṇ draws his sword and cuts off Śūrpaṇakhā’s nose and ears before Rāma.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:11
text: Śūrpaṇakhā flees bleeding and shrieking into the wilderness and then to Janasthān.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:12
text: At Janasthān, Śūrpaṇakhā falls before Khara and reports the arrival of Rāma,
Lakṣmaṇ, and Sītā, along with her injuries and shame.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Rāma
description: Royal hero; husband of Sītā; brother of Lakṣmaṇ; stops Śūrpaṇakhā’s
attack and commands her disfigurement.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:6
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Sītā
description: Rāma’s true and dear wife; present beside Rāma in the leafy shed; threatened
by Śūrpaṇakhā.
role_refs:
- role:3
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:5
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Lakṣmaṇ
description: Rāma’s brother; described as unmarried, heroic, and bound to Rāma’s
will; mockingly redirects Śūrpaṇakhā and later mutilates her.
role_refs:
- role:2
- role:4
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:7
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Śūrpaṇakhā
description: A passionate giantess or fiend who desires Rāma and Lakṣmaṇ, threatens
Sītā, is mutilated, and flees to Khara.
role_refs:
- role:8
- role:9
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Khara
description: A fierce chief at Janasthān, surrounded by thousands of giant chieftains,
before whom Śūrpaṇakhā falls and reports her injuries.
role_refs:
- role:11
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Giant chieftains
description: Thousands of giant chieftains ranged around Khara at Janasthān.
role_refs:
- role:12
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
roles:
- id: role:1
label: husband
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Rāma states that Sītā is his wife.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:2
label: brother pair
assigned_to:
- fig:1
- fig:3
basis: Rāma calls Lakṣmaṇ his brother, and Lakṣmaṇ says he is bound to his brother’s
will.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- id: role:3
label: wife
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Rāma identifies Sītā as his wife, true and dear.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:4
label: mocking responder
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Lakṣmaṇ’s praise is explicitly described as scornful jest.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:5
label: protector and commander
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Rāma stops Śūrpaṇakhā’s attack and directs Lakṣmaṇ to disfigure her.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: role:6
label: threatened rival
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Śūrpaṇakhā threatens to devour Sītā so she can roam with Rāma free of rivals.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:7
label: executor of mutilation
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Lakṣmaṇ draws his sword and cuts away Śūrpaṇakhā’s nose and ears.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: role:8
label: amorous suitor
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Śūrpaṇakhā asks Lakṣmaṇ to take her as his bride after first desiring Rāma.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:9
label: attacker of Sītā
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Śūrpaṇakhā threatens to devour Sītā and rushes toward her.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:10
label: mutilated messenger
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: After her nose and ears are cut off, Śūrpaṇakhā flees to Khara and reports
her injuries.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: role:11
label: giant chief receiving complaint
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: Śūrpaṇakhā finds Khara at Janasthān and declares the tale before him.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: role:12
label: attending giant host
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: The passage says thousands of giant chieftains are ranged around Khara.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: sword of mutilation
literal_form: Sword drawn by Lakṣmaṇ to cut off Śūrpaṇakhā’s nose and ears.
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: sym:2
label: nose and ears cut away
literal_form: Śūrpaṇakhā’s severed nose and ears, leaving her noseless and earless.
associated_figures:
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: sym:3
label: Daṇḍak wilderness
literal_form: Forest wilderness through which Śūrpaṇakhā proposes to roam and later
flees.
associated_figures:
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:8
- id: sym:4
label: Janasthān refuge or war-camp
literal_form: Place where Śūrpaṇakhā finds Khara surrounded by giant chieftains.
associated_figures:
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: sym:5
label: Meru mountain simile
literal_form: Rāma compares Śūrpaṇakhā resting on Lakṣmaṇ’s bosom to warm sunlight
resting on Meru’s breast.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs:
- mountain
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: sym:6
label: meteor and Rohiṇī star simile
literal_form: Śūrpaṇakhā rushing at Sītā is compared to a horrid meteor marring
Rohiṇī’s soft star.
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Rāma redirects Śūrpaṇakhā to Lakṣmaṇ
summary: Śūrpaṇakhā, ensnared by desire, approaches Rāma; Rāma says he already has
Sītā as wife and points her toward the unmarried Lakṣmaṇ.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:9
- id: scene:2
label: Lakṣmaṇ’s mocking redirection
summary: Śūrpaṇakhā asks Lakṣmaṇ to take her as bride, but Lakṣmaṇ mockingly calls
himself a servant of Rāma and sends her back to become Rāma’s younger bride.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: scene:3
label: Threat against Sītā
summary: Śūrpaṇakhā returns to Rāma, insults Sītā, threatens to devour her, and
rushes at her.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: scene:4
label: Rāma orders punishment
summary: Rāma stops the attack, rebukes Lakṣmaṇ for jesting with a wrathful creature,
and orders that Śūrpaṇakhā be marked and disfigured.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: scene:5
label: Lakṣmaṇ mutilates Śūrpaṇakhā
summary: Lakṣmaṇ draws a sword and cuts off Śūrpaṇakhā’s nose and ears; she flees
bleeding and shrieking into the wilderness.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: scene:6
label: Śūrpaṇakhā reports to Khara
summary: Śūrpaṇakhā reaches Janasthān, falls before Khara, and reports the presence
of Rāma, Lakṣmaṇ, and Sītā as well as her injury and shame.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: desire-driven approach to a married hero
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Śūrpaṇakhā approaches Rāma in passion, but Rāma identifies Sītā as his wife
and redirects her.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
confidence: high
cautions: The passage presents desire and redirection, not a completed marriage
proposal to Rāma.
- id: motif:2
label: mocking courtship redirection
taxonomy_refs:
- trickster_boundary
basis: Rāma and Lakṣmaṇ both redirect Śūrpaṇakhā, and Lakṣmaṇ’s praise is explicitly
described as scornful jest that she believes.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:4
confidence: medium
cautions: The available taxonomy label is broad; the passage supports mockery and
boundary-crossing but does not identify a formal trickster figure.
- id: motif:3
label: threatened destruction of the rival wife
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Śūrpaṇakhā threatens to devour Sītā so that she can be free of rivals and
roam with Rāma.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
confidence: high
cautions: The threat is interrupted before any injury to Sītā occurs.
- id: motif:4
label: brothers jointly protect the beloved woman
taxonomy_refs:
- sibling_pair
basis: 'Rāma and Lakṣmaṇ act as brothers in the episode: Rāma stops the attack and
commands action, while Lakṣmaṇ carries out the punishment.'
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:6
- ev:7
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage emphasizes hierarchy between the brothers as well as sibling
relation.
- id: motif:5
label: punitive bodily disfigurement as a visible mark
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Rāma commands that the fiend not escape without a mark to mar her shape,
and Lakṣmaṇ cuts off her nose and ears.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
confidence: high
cautions: The passage gives the punishment and mark but does not provide a legal
or ritual explanation.
- id: motif:6
label: injured figure flees to powerful kin or ally and reports wrong
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: After mutilation, Śūrpaṇakhā flees to Janasthān, falls before Khara, and
recounts the arrival of Rāma, Lakṣmaṇ, and Sītā along with her injuries.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
confidence: high
cautions: The passage ends with the report and does not include Khara’s response.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 28687-28811, Canto XVIII, opening exchange
quote_or_summary: Rāma tells Śūrpaṇakhā that Sītā is his true wife and that Lakṣmaṇ
is unmarried, heroic, and suitable for her embrace.
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 28687-28811, Śūrpaṇakhā addresses Lakṣmaṇ
quote_or_summary: Śūrpaṇakhā leaves Rāma and asks Lakṣmaṇ to take her as bride and
roam with her through Daṇḍak.
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 28687-28811, Lakṣmaṇ’s reply
quote_or_summary: Lakṣmaṇ says he is bound to his brother’s will and advises Śūrpaṇakhā
to become Rāma’s younger bride, adding flattering contrasts with Sītā.
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 28687-28811, narrator on Lakṣmaṇ’s speech
quote_or_summary: "“Thus Lakshmaṇ praised in scornful jest / The long-toothed fiend...”
and she did not know the words were mocking."
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short quote.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 28687-28811, Śūrpaṇakhā threatens Sītā
quote_or_summary: Śūrpaṇakhā calls Sītā an old misshapen rival, threatens to devour
her before Rāma, and rushes toward the Maithil woman like a meteor toward Rohiṇī.
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 28687-28811, Rāma stops the attack
quote_or_summary: Rāma stops Śūrpaṇakhā’s purpose, rebukes Lakṣmaṇ for jesting with
a savage wrathful creature, and orders that she be marked and disfigured.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:7
type: quote
locator: lines 28687-28811, mutilation
quote_or_summary: "“He drew that sword which none could stay, / And cleft her nose
and ears away.”"
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short quote.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: lines 28687-28811, flight to Janasthān
quote_or_summary: Noseless and earless, Śūrpaṇakhā flees bleeding through the wilderness
to Janasthān, falls before Khara among giant chieftains, and reports the tale
and her injuries.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:9
type: quote
locator: lines 28687-28811, Rāma’s Meru simile
quote_or_summary: "“As the warm sunlight loves to rest / Upon her darling Meru’s
breast.”"
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short quote.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: uncertain
notes: Literal sequence and figures are explicit in the passage. Motif labels are
descriptive and should be reviewed, especially the broad taxonomy use of trickster_boundary
and sibling_pair. No comparison claims were made because the passage itself does
not establish an external comparison.
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 provided passage and metadata. Names follow the passage spelling where practical, with normalized diacritics in labels.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:hindu-ramayana-griffith-gutenberg__l28687-l28811
passage_sha256=598fbfd608e54ff08fb47d8b644a0808b606cc827f720abe728d117291a23fb4