batch.motif.hindu-ramayana-griffith-gutenberg-l30975-l31147
---
record_id: batch.motif.hindu-ramayana-griffith-gutenberg-l30975-l31147
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 30975-31147
start: '30975'
end: '31147'
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: Rávaṇ hears advice, deliberates, orders his supernatural chariot, and travels
over the ocean shore. The passage describes his royal and monstrous appearance,
the sacred and luxuriant landscape below, a giant fig-tree associated with Garuḍ’s
rescue of ascetics and theft of Amrit, and Rávaṇ’s arrival at Márícha’s hermitage,
where Márícha receives him as a guest and asks the reason for his sudden coming.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Rávaṇ hears terrible advice, dismisses his nobles, weighs gain and risk, and
resolves to attempt the deed.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Rávaṇ orders his charioteer to bring his car; the chariot is described as
gem-adorned, golden, obedient to his will, and drawn by asses with goblin heads.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: Rávaṇ mounts the chariot and travels toward the ocean; he is attended by a
white shade and white chouris and is described with ten necks, twenty arms, and
ten heads.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:4
text: From the air Rávaṇ sees the ocean shore with trees, pools, altar-like shores,
hermit retreats, and many ascetics and celestial beings.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:5
text: The shore and surrounding region include celestial chariots, music, fragrant
woods, pearls, coral, mountains with gold and silver ore, waterfalls, towns, animals,
and cool shaded levels.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:6
text: Rávaṇ sees a vast fig-tree, said to stretch a hundred leagues and to provide
shade for bands of hermits.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:7
text: A remembered episode says the feathered king carried an elephant and tortoise
to the fig-tree; when a bough broke under the weight, he lifted it away to spare
the ascetics below, then carried off the bough and prey.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:8
text: After the rescue, the feathered king conceived the enterprise of taking Amrit
from the sky, broke iron nets, entered a jewel chamber, and carried away the heavenly
drink guarded in Indra’s palace.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:9
text: Rávaṇ stops by the ocean shore, sees a secluded hermitage, and meets Márícha,
who wears deerskin and matted hair in hermit guise and lives by abstinent rule.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:10
text: Márícha receives Rávaṇ as host receives guest, gives him food and water for
his feet, and asks what urgent need brought him so swiftly.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Rávaṇ
description: A giant king and monarch, enemy of the heavenly gods, described with
ten necks, twenty arms, and ten heads, traveling by supernatural chariot.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Rávaṇ’s charioteer
description: Servant who obeys Rávaṇ’s order and prepares the chariot.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Hermits and ascetics of the shore and fig-tree
description: Ascetic groups dwelling in retreats and beneath the fig-tree, including
Ájas, Máshas, Maríchipas, Vaikhánasas, and Bálakhilyas.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Garuḍ / the feathered king
description: The feathered monarch associated with carrying an elephant and tortoise,
rescuing ascetics from a fallen bough, and carrying away Amrit from Indra’s palace.
role_refs:
- role:4
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Márícha
description: A fiend seen in deerskin and matted hair, living in hermit guise by
abstinent rule, who receives Rávaṇ as a guest.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Celestial beings at the ocean shore
description: Gods, Dánavs, Gandharvas, Kinnars, Nágas, heavenly birds, saints, nymphs,
and others present in the sacred landscape.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
roles:
- id: role:1
label: giant king and supernatural traveler
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Rávaṇ commands the chariot, appears in royal and monstrous form, and journeys
through the air toward the ocean shore.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: role:2
label: obedient vehicle-preparer
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: The charioteer hears Rávaṇ’s command and yokes the best chariot for him.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:3
label: ascetic dwellers under protection
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Hermits and ascetic groups dwell in the retreats and beneath the fig-tree
and are endangered by the falling bough.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: role:4
label: rescuer of ascetics
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: The feathered king raises the fallen bough and carries it away because he
pities the ascetics’ danger.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: role:5
label: seizer of heavenly drink
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: He undertakes to snatch Amrit from the skies and carries away the drink guarded
in Indra’s palace.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: role:6
label: hermit-host
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: Márícha is dressed as an ascetic and receives Rávaṇ with food, water, and
questions of hospitality.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
- id: role:7
label: celestial inhabitants of sacred landscape
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: Various gods, semi-divine beings, nymphs, saints, and heavenly birds are
said to occupy or visit the shore and retreats.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: supernatural royal chariot
literal_form: Gem-adorned golden chariot, obedient to will and drawn by asses with
goblin heads.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: sym:2
label: ocean shore
literal_form: Rocky shore of the ocean with pools, trees, spray, pearls, coral,
and sacred retreats.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: sym:3
label: hermit-sheltering fig-tree
literal_form: A fig-tree like a cloud, extending a hundred leagues and shading hermit
bands; later called the Blest tree.
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs:
- tree
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: sym:4
label: Amrit / drink of heaven
literal_form: Heavenly drink guarded in Indra’s palace and carried away by the feathered
king.
associated_figures:
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: sym:5
label: mountain peaks and waterfalls
literal_form: High mountain peaks bearing gold and silver ore, with waterfalls descending
rocky walls.
associated_figures: []
taxonomy_refs:
- mountain
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: sym:6
label: hermit garb
literal_form: Deerskin garment and matted hair worn by Márícha in hermit guise.
associated_figures:
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Rávaṇ resolves and departs
summary: After hearing advice, Rávaṇ dismisses his nobles, weighs the plan, orders
his chariot, and sets out toward the ocean in royal monstrous form.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: scene:2
label: Aerial view of the sacred ocean shore
summary: As Rávaṇ travels, he sees a beautiful ocean shore filled with trees, pools,
hermit retreats, celestial beings, fragrant woods, minerals, waterfalls, towns,
and vehicles of the gods.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: scene:3
label: Garuḍ and the Blest fig-tree
summary: The passage recounts the giant fig-tree and the feathered king’s earlier
visit with elephant and tortoise prey; he saves the ascetics from a falling bough
and the tree remains marked by his attempted rest.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: scene:4
label: The taking of Amrit
summary: The feathered king’s rescue of the hermits leads to increased valour and
the undertaking of seizing Amrit from the heavenly realm and Indra’s palace.
figure_refs:
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: scene:5
label: Rávaṇ arrives at Márícha’s hermitage
summary: Rávaṇ stops near the ocean shore, finds Márícha in hermit guise, and is
received with hospitality before Márícha asks the reason for his urgent arrival.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: supernatural journey to a remote hermitage
taxonomy_refs:
- departure
basis: Rávaṇ resolves to perform a deed, mounts a wondrous chariot, crosses the
ocean region, and arrives at Márícha’s secluded hermitage.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:9
confidence: medium
cautions: The goal of the deed is not specified within this passage excerpt, so
the departure pattern is present only at the level of journey and resolve.
- id: motif:2
label: sacred tree sheltering ascetics
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_tree_axis
basis: The fig-tree is vast, shades hermit bands, is linked to a divine bird episode,
and is named Blest.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage emphasizes shelter and sacred association, but does not explicitly
describe the tree as a cosmic axis or world center.
- id: motif:3
label: rescue of holy ascetics by a powerful bird being
taxonomy_refs:
- culture_hero
basis: The feathered king lifts and removes the dangerous bough to save the ascetics
beneath it, and the passage marks joy at freeing the hermits from jeopardy.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
confidence: medium
cautions: The taxonomy label is approximate; the passage presents a rescue deed
but does not explicitly define Garuḍ as a culture hero.
- id: motif:4
label: theft of heavenly immortality drink
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_theft
basis: The feathered king undertakes to snatch Amrit from the skies, breaks through
obstacles, and carries away the drink guarded in Indra’s palace.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
confidence: high
cautions: The excerpt summarizes the episode briefly and does not provide the full
context or consequences of the theft.
- id: motif:5
label: host-guest reception at a hermitage
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Márícha, in hermit guise, receives Rávaṇ with food, water for his feet, and
formal questions about his welfare and purpose.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
confidence: high
cautions: No broader taxonomy reference is assigned from the available list.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 30975-30988
quote_or_summary: Rávaṇ hears terrible advice, dismisses his nobles, weighs hope
and fear, and decides to attempt the deed.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 30989-31000
quote_or_summary: Rávaṇ orders his charioteer to bring the car; the charioteer yokes
a wondrous gemmed and golden car drawn by asses with goblin heads.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 31001-31018
quote_or_summary: Rávaṇ mounts with a thunderous roar, travels to the ocean, and
appears with white royal insignia, jewels, ten necks, twenty arms, and ten heads.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 31019-31051
quote_or_summary: From the air he sees the rocky ocean shore, trees, pools, hermit
retreats, ascetics, Gandharvas, Kinnars, Nágas, heavenly birds, saints, nymphs,
Gods, and Dánavs.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 31052-31087
quote_or_summary: He sees divine chariots, garlands, music, fragrant sandal and
aloe woods, pearls, coral, ore-bearing mountains, waterfalls, towns, and cool
shaded levels along the shore.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: lines 31088-31099
quote_or_summary: He sees a cloud-like fig-tree whose branches bend earthward, stretching
a hundred leagues and giving shade to hermit bands.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: lines 31100-31127
quote_or_summary: The feathered king brings an elephant and tortoise to the tree;
when the loaded bough breaks over ascetics, he removes it, carries off the load
and prey, and frees the hermits from danger.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: lines 31128-31135
quote_or_summary: Strengthened by the rescue, the feathered king undertakes to snatch
Amrit, breaks iron nets, enters the jewel chamber, and carries away the heavenly
drink guarded in Indra’s palace.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: lines 31136-31145
quote_or_summary: The passage identifies the tree as the hermit-sheltering tree
seen by Rávaṇ, then shows him stopping near the ocean shore and finding Márícha
in a secluded hermitage, wearing deerskin and matted hair.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:10
type: summary
locator: lines 31146-31147 and following lines in supplied passage
quote_or_summary: Márícha receives Rávaṇ as host receives guest, offers food and
water for his feet, and asks what sudden need brought him with such speed.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: uncertain
notes: Literal extraction is straightforward from the supplied passage. Motif labels
are cautious because some taxonomy mappings, especially sacred_tree_axis and culture_hero,
are broader than the immediate wording. No comparison claims were made beyond
the passage.
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: |-
Only the supplied passage and metadata were used. Comparison claims were left empty because the passage does not itself establish a cross-textual or historical comparison.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:hindu-ramayana-griffith-gutenberg__l30975-l31147
passage_sha256=42a54a2fe2f7ac527d77a816b3a14c04bd5ec0931241e81efd5d389e46069161