batch.motif.hindu-ramayana-griffith-gutenberg-l30643-l30752
---
record_id: batch.motif.hindu-ramayana-griffith-gutenberg-l30643-l30752
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
passage_locator:
label: Canto XXIII. The Omens. / Canto XXIV. The Host In Sight. / Canto XXV. The
Battle. / Canto XXVIII. Khara Dismounted.; lines 30643-30752
start: '30643'
end: '30752'
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: Śúrpaṇakhá sees Ráma's slaughter of Khara, Dúshaṇ, Triśirás, and a fourteen-thousand-strong
host, then flees to Lanká. There she finds Rávaṇ enthroned among counsellors.
The passage describes Rávaṇ's terrifying royal appearance, wounds from divine
battles, strength, lawlessness, thefts, austerities, protection from death except
by a human, and desecration of sacrifices. Śúrpaṇakhá, still marked by injuries
to her face, approaches the throne and begins to address him angrily.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Śúrpaṇakhá sees a plain covered with fourteen thousand slain, along with Triśirás,
Dúshaṇ, Khara, and their hosts, all said to have been overthrown by Ráma alone.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Śúrpaṇakhá roars in grief and flees in anger and dismay to Lanká, the seat
of Rávaṇ's rule.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: Rávaṇ is seated on a splendid throne, surrounded by counsellors and peers.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:4
text: Rávaṇ is described as having a mouth like the jaws of Death, twenty arms,
ten necks, a massive mountain-like stature, and royal marks.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:5
text: Rávaṇ's body bears wounds and scars from battles involving gods, demons, Vishṇu,
Airávat, and other divine opponents.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:6
text: Rávaṇ's power is said to disturb the sea, hurl mountains down, and crush heavenly
foes.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:7
text: Rávaṇ is said to spurn law and right and to desire other men's wives.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:8
text: Rávaṇ defeated Vásuki at Bhogavatí and stole the beloved wife of Lord Takshaka.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:9
text: Rávaṇ fought Kuvera on Kailása and stole Pushpak, a flying car that moved
through the air according to its master's will.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:10
text: Rávaṇ spoiled divine groves and raised his arms to check the moon and the
rising sun.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: obs:11
text: Rávaṇ performed ten thousand years of austerities and offered his heads before
the Self-existent.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: obs:12
text: Rávaṇ's life is protected from gods, fiends, Gandharvas, goblins, birds, and
snakes, but not from a human arm.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
- id: obs:13
text: Rávaṇ disrupts Soma rites, overturns sacrifices, and kills Bráhmans.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:13
- id: obs:14
text: Śúrpaṇakhá approaches Rávaṇ's throne while still bearing marks on her face
and begins an angry speech before his counsellors.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:14
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Śúrpaṇakhá
description: A giantess who sees the slain host, flees to Lanká, bears marks on
her face, and angrily addresses Rávaṇ.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:14
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Ráma
description: The great-hearted chief whose mighty arm alone is said to have slain
Khara's host and marked Śúrpaṇakhá's face.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:14
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Rávaṇ
description: A many-armed and ten-necked ruler of Lanká, enthroned among counsellors,
powerful, wounded from divine battles, lawless, and destructive of rites.
role_refs:
- role:4
- role:5
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:13
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Khara, Dúshaṇ, Triśirás, and their host
description: Leaders and forces lying slain on the plain after Ráma's attack.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Rávaṇ's counsellors and peers
description: Attendants gathered around Rávaṇ's throne while Śúrpaṇakhá approaches
and speaks.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:14
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Vásuki
description: A figure at Bhogavatí whom Rávaṇ is said to have beaten down.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Lord Takshaka's beloved wife
description: A woman said to have been stolen by Rávaṇ after his victory at Bhogavatí.
role_refs:
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Kuvera
description: A figure who fought Rávaṇ at Kailása before Rávaṇ stole Pushpak.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: Bráhmans and priests
description: Ritual officiants whose hymns, Soma, sacrifices, and lives are harmed
by Rávaṇ.
role_refs:
- role:11
evidence_refs:
- ev:13
roles:
- id: role:1
label: witness of slaughter
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: She sees the plain covered with the slain host and its leaders.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:2
label: injured messenger or petitioner
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: She flees to Lanká, approaches Rávaṇ while bearing facial marks, and begins
to speak angrily.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:14
- id: role:3
label: single-handed slayer
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: The host is described as overthrown by Ráma's mighty arm alone.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:4
label: enthroned ruler
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Rávaṇ sits on a royal throne surrounded by counsellors and peers in Lanká.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:5
label: dread antagonist
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: He is called a ruthless monster, dread of the worlds, and foeman's mortal
fear.
evidence_refs:
- ev:15
- id: role:6
label: violator of sacred and social order
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: He spurns law and right, desires others' wives, steals, spoils divine places,
and disrupts rites.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:10
- ev:13
- id: role:7
label: slain foes
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: They are explicitly named among the dead on the plain.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:8
label: royal attendants
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: They surround Rávaṇ while he sits on his throne and while Śúrpaṇakhá speaks.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:14
- id: role:9
label: defeated opponent
assigned_to:
- fig:6
- fig:8
basis: Vásuki is beaten down and Kuvera fights in vain against Rávaṇ.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
- id: role:10
label: abducted beloved
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: She is described as Lord Takshaka's beloved wife, stolen by Rávaṇ.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: role:11
label: ritual victims
assigned_to:
- fig:9
basis: Their Soma rite is spoiled, their sacrifice overthrown, and Bráhmans are
slain.
evidence_refs:
- ev:13
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: royal throne
literal_form: Rávaṇ's bright and glorious throne in Lanká
associated_figures:
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:2
label: fire on golden altar
literal_form: A simile comparing the splendour of Rávaṇ's throne to blazing fire
on a golden altar
associated_figures:
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:3
label: mountain-like body and thrown mountains
literal_form: Rávaṇ's stature is likened to a mountain height, and his power can
hurl towering mountains down
associated_figures:
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs:
- mountain
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:6
- id: sym:4
label: ten heads or necks and twenty arms
literal_form: Rávaṇ's score of arms and ten necks, with heads offered in austerity
associated_figures:
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:11
- id: sym:5
label: Pushpak flying car
literal_form: A car stolen from Kuvera that flies through the air according to the
master's will
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: sym:6
label: serpent beings and death immunity
literal_form: Vásuki and Takshaka are involved in Rávaṇ's exploit at Bhogavatí,
and snakes are listed among beings unable to kill him
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:6
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs:
- serpent
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:12
- id: sym:7
label: Soma and sacrifice
literal_form: Consecrated Soma juice, hymns, and sacrifice disrupted by Rávaṇ
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:9
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:13
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Śúrpaṇakhá surveys the slain host
summary: Śúrpaṇakhá sees the fourteen thousand slain along with Khara, Dúshaṇ, Triśirás,
and their forces, all attributed to Ráma's single-handed violence.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:4
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Flight to Lanká
summary: Śúrpaṇakhá roars in pain and flees in anger and dismay to Lanká, where
Rávaṇ rules.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: scene:3
label: Rávaṇ enthroned
summary: Rávaṇ sits on a brilliant royal throne among counsellors and peers, presented
with terrifying and regal imagery.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:15
- id: scene:4
label: Catalogue of Rávaṇ's power and violations
summary: The passage recounts Rávaṇ's battle scars, strength, thefts, attacks on
divine places and cosmic bodies, austerities, death protection, and desecration
of rites.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:8
- fig:9
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
- sym:4
- sym:5
- sym:6
- sym:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:10
- ev:11
- ev:12
- ev:13
- id: scene:5
label: Śúrpaṇakhá approaches and speaks
summary: Still marked on the face and driven by terror, desire, and anger, Śúrpaṇakhá
approaches Rávaṇ's throne and begins her bitter speech before the counsellors.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:14
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: single hero defeats overwhelming host
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Ráma alone is credited with killing the fourteen thousand and the named leaders.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
confidence: high
cautions: No supplied taxonomy family directly matches this battle pattern.
- id: motif:2
label: injured female relative or ally appeals to ruler
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Śúrpaṇakhá, bearing marks on her face, flees to Rávaṇ's court and begins
an angry account.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:14
confidence: medium
cautions: The excerpt only begins her speech; the full content and consequences
are outside the provided passage.
- id: motif:3
label: demon king as violator of sacred order
taxonomy_refs:
- chaos
basis: Rávaṇ spurns law and right, uses celestial weapons, mars rites, spoils Soma,
overturns sacrifices, and kills Bráhmans.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:13
confidence: medium
cautions: The taxonomy label 'chaos' is broad; the passage emphasizes lawlessness
and ritual destruction rather than a full cosmogonic chaos motif.
- id: motif:4
label: abduction of another's beloved wife
taxonomy_refs:
- stolen_beloved
basis: Rávaṇ is said to have stolen Lord Takshaka's beloved wife after defeating
Vásuki at Bhogavatí.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
confidence: high
cautions: This is a brief backstory notice rather than the main scene of the excerpt.
- id: motif:5
label: theft of a wondrous aerial vehicle
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_theft
basis: Rávaṇ fights Kuvera on Kailása and steals Pushpak, the flying car that moves
as its master wills.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
confidence: medium
cautions: The object is wondrous and linked to divine figures, but the passage does
not explicitly call the theft sacred.
- id: motif:6
label: austerity with self-offering
taxonomy_refs:
- sacrifice
basis: Rávaṇ spends ten thousand years in austerities and offers his heads before
the Self-existent.
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
confidence: high
cautions: The offering is ascetic self-offering; it should be distinguished from
the Soma sacrifices he later disrupts.
- id: motif:7
label: conditional invulnerability with human exception
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Rávaṇ cannot be killed by gods, fiends, Gandharvas, goblins, birds, or snakes,
but remains vulnerable to a human arm.
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
confidence: high
cautions: No available taxonomy reference directly matches conditional invulnerability.
- id: motif:8
label: attack on cosmic order of sun and moon
taxonomy_refs:
- chaos
basis: Rávaṇ raises his arms to check the moon and stay the rising sun.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage states the attempted cosmic interference poetically; it does
not narrate its outcome.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: 30643-30649
quote_or_summary: Śúrpaṇakhá sees fourteen thousand slain, along with Triśirás,
Dúshaṇ, Khara, and their hosts, all overthrown by Ráma alone.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: 30650-30653
quote_or_summary: Śúrpaṇakhá roars in pain and flees in anger and dismay to Lanká,
the seat of Rávaṇ's rule.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: 30654-30661
quote_or_summary: Rávaṇ sits on a splendid throne among counsellors and peers; the
throne's brilliance is compared to blazing fire on a golden altar.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: 30662-30677
quote_or_summary: Rávaṇ is described with a mouth like Death's jaws, twenty arms,
ten necks, royal signs, mountain-like stature, white teeth, and a massive jeweled
appearance.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: 30666-30685
quote_or_summary: His body bears wounds and scars from conflicts with gods, demons,
Airávat, Vishṇu, and divine weapons.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: 30686-30691
quote_or_summary: His might can rouse the sea, hurl mountains to the earth, and
crush heavenly foes.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: 30692-30695
quote_or_summary: Rávaṇ spurns law and right, desires others' wives, uses celestial
arms, and loves to mar holy rites.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: 30696-30699
quote_or_summary: At Bhogavatí, Rávaṇ beats down Vásuki and steals Lord Takshaka's
beloved wife.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: 30700-30703
quote_or_summary: Rávaṇ goes to Kailása, defeats Kuvera's resistance, and steals
Pushpak, a flying car controlled by its master.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:10
type: summary
locator: 30704-30711
quote_or_summary: In anger he spoils Nandan, Naliní, and Chaitraratha, and raises
his arms to check the moon and stay the rising sun.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:11
type: summary
locator: 30712-30715
quote_or_summary: For ten thousand years Rávaṇ performs dire austerities and offers
his heads before the Self-existent.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:12
type: summary
locator: 30716-30719
quote_or_summary: No god, fiend, Gandharva, goblin, bird, or snake can take his
life; only a human arm remains an exception.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:13
type: summary
locator: 30720-30727
quote_or_summary: He spoils consecrated Soma, overthrows sacrifice, kills Bráhmans,
and rejoices in others' suffering.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:14
type: summary
locator: 30736-30752
quote_or_summary: Śúrpaṇakhá, bearing traces where the chief marked her face, approaches
Rávaṇ's throne and begins an angry speech before the counsellors.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:15
type: summary
locator: 30728-30735
quote_or_summary: Rávaṇ is seen as a ruthless monster, dread of the worlds, dressed
in heavenly garments and wreaths, like Destruction before it strikes the worlds.
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: high
notes: Extraction uses only the supplied passage. Motif assignments are cautious
where taxonomy categories are broad or indirect. No external comparison claims
were added.
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: |-
Public-domain Griffith translation passage summarized with limited interpretive labeling.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:hindu-ramayana-griffith-gutenberg__l30643-l30752
passage_sha256=03645097a042a7bc74d838a550278d77360befdaf15b80ad3434f89a8e9bbd16