batch.motif.hindu-ramayana-griffith-gutenberg-l31892-l31975
---
record_id: batch.motif.hindu-ramayana-griffith-gutenberg-l31892-l31975
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 31892-31975
start: '31892'
end: '31975'
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: At Rávaṇ's command, Márícha abandons his giant form and takes the form
of a wondrous jewel-colored deer near Ráma's cottage. The deer moves through the
woods and around the cottage to attract Sítá's gaze, mingles with other deer,
and hides its predatory nature. Sítá, returning from gathering flowers, sees the
strange deer and gazes at it with delight.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Rávaṇ speaks, and Márícha obeys his master's word.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Márícha throws off his giant shape and appears near the cottage as a beautiful
deer.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: The deer's borrowed form is described with gem-like colors, bright horns,
patterned hide, and radiant light.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: The deer moves through the wood and near Ráma's home while cropping grass,
grain, buds, and shoots.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:5
text: The deer approaches slowly to catch Sítá's glances and eventually appears
fully in her view.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:6
text: The deer alternates between coming near, fleeing, returning, gamboling, lying
down, approaching the door, and mingling with a troop of deer.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:7
text: The woodland deer first gaze and follow, then smell a tainted wind and flee.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:8
text: The giant wants to slay the startled quarry but refrains in order to conceal
his nature under the assumed shape.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:9
text: Sítá returns from gathering spring flowers and beholds the wondrous dappled
deer.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:10
text: Sítá gazes at the deer with rapture and strange delight.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Rávaṇ
description: Speaker whose command Márícha obeys.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Márícha / the giant / the false deer
description: A giant who assumes the form of a beautiful deer and moves near the
cottage to attract Sítá's gaze.
role_refs:
- role:2
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
- ev:6
- ev:8
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Sítá / the fair Videhan / Janak's child
description: Ráma's beloved, returning from gathering flowers, who sees the wondrous
deer and gazes at it with delight.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Ráma
description: Referenced as the owner of the leafy cottage and as the one who loves
Sítá.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:8
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: woodland deer
description: A troop of ordinary deer that initially gathers around and follows
the false deer, then flees.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
roles:
- id: role:1
label: master or commander
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Márícha acts obediently after Rávaṇ speaks.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:2
label: obedient shapeshifter
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Márícha obeys and throws off his giant shape for a borrowed deer form.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: role:3
label: deceptive lure
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: The deer form is used to charm Sítá's eyes and win her glance while concealing
the giant's nature.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:6
- id: role:4
label: targeted beholder
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: The deer moves to attract Sítá's gaze, and she beholds it with delight.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: role:5
label: absent householder and beloved
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: The cottage is called Ráma's home, and Sítá is identified as one whom Ráma
loved.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:8
- id: role:6
label: animal witnesses
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: The woodland deer gather around the false deer, follow briefly, then flee
after sensing something tainted.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: false wondrous deer
literal_form: A giant's assumed deer form, beautiful, strange, and meant to attract
Sítá's gaze.
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:4
- id: sym:2
label: gem-colored body
literal_form: Horns, ears, head, neck, hide, hoofs, and tail described through sapphire,
turquoise, ruby, lazulite, silver, lotus tints, and rainbow hues.
associated_figures:
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: sym:3
label: Ráma's leafy cottage
literal_form: The cottage and home near which the deer appears and wanders.
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:5
- id: sym:4
label: spring flowers and blossoms
literal_form: Flowers, buds, mango spray, and Aśoka bloom gathered by Sítá before
she sees the deer.
associated_figures:
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Márícha assumes the deer form
summary: After Rávaṇ speaks, Márícha obeys, abandons his giant form, and appears
near the cottage as a beautiful deer.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: scene:2
label: The radiant deer displays itself near the cottage
summary: The jewel-colored deer moves through the woods and near Ráma's home, browsing
and shining with strange beauty to attract Sítá's attention.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: scene:3
label: Other deer detect danger
summary: Woodland deer gather around and follow the false deer, but flee after scenting
a tainted wind; the disguised giant refrains from killing them in order to maintain
the disguise.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: scene:4
label: Sítá beholds the false deer
summary: Sítá returns from gathering flowers, sees the wondrous dappled deer, and
continues gazing at it in rapture and delight.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: shapeshifter assumes animal form
taxonomy_refs:
- shapeshifter
basis: Márícha discards his giant shape and takes a borrowed deer form through magic
power.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
confidence: high
cautions: The passage describes only this transformation and its immediate deceptive
use; broader narrative consequences are outside the provided text.
- id: motif:2
label: magical animal lure
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The false deer is made beautiful and strange, moves near and far around the
cottage, and seeks to win Sítá's glance.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:8
confidence: high
cautions: No external motif index identifier is supplied for this pattern.
- id: motif:3
label: concealed predatory nature beneath attractive appearance
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The giant longs to kill prey but refrains in order to veil his nature while
wearing the deer shape.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
confidence: medium
cautions: This is a passage-level pattern inferred from the explicit contrast between
desire to kill and maintained disguise.
- id: motif:4
label: enchanted gaze at wondrous apparition
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Sítá repeatedly gazes at the unprecedented, luminous deer with rapture and
strange delight.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage states delight and fascination, but does not explicitly name
enchantment or compulsion.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: quote
locator: lines 31892-31895
quote_or_summary: "“Thus Rávaṇ spoke, Márícha heard / Obedient to his master’s word,
/ Threw off his giant shape and near / The cottage strayed a beauteous deer.”"
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source text.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 31896-31918
quote_or_summary: The borrowed deer form is described as magical, fair, strange,
gem-colored, radiant, and marked with sapphire, turquoise, ruby, lazulite, silver,
lotus tints, and rainbow hues.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source text.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 31919-31926
quote_or_summary: The strange deer casts light over Ráma's home and through the
woods, moving onward while browsing grass, grain, and tender shoots.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source text.
- id: ev:4
type: quote
locator: lines 31923-31936
quote_or_summary: The giant wears a strange dress “To charm the fair Videhan’s eyes,”
and slowly approaches “To catch the glances of the dame” until he shines in Sítá's
view.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source text.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 31937-31952
quote_or_summary: The deer roams near Ráma's cottage, alternately near and far,
fleeing and returning, gamboling, lying down, approaching the door, and mingling
with a troop of deer.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source text.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: lines 31953-31964
quote_or_summary: Woodland deer gaze, follow, then flee after smelling a tainted
wind; the giant wants to kill the quarry but refrains in order to keep his nature
veiled.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source text.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: lines 31965-31972
quote_or_summary: Sítá returns after gathering spring flowers, mango spray, and
Aśoka bloom, then sees the wondrous dappled deer, its silver hair and radiant
features, and gazes with rapture.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source text.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: lines 31973-31975
quote_or_summary: The false deer casts glances on Ráma's beloved, wanders about
with luminous beauty, and Janak's child keeps gazing at the unwonted sight with
strange delight.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source text.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: uncertain
notes: Literal extraction is strong because the passage explicitly describes the
transformation, lure, and Sítá's gaze. Motif labels beyond the supplied shapeshifter
taxonomy are descriptive passage-level candidates without external index IDs.
No comparison claims were made.
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. The passage label supplied in the request appears broader than the excerpted content, but the given locator and source path were preserved.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:hindu-ramayana-griffith-gutenberg__l31892-l31975
passage_sha256=cfb6d82040697b183876ffd0d63f060a28d58168a30b9161498d1aa2c1a599f5