batch.motif.hindu-ramayana-griffith-gutenberg-l32198-l32342
---
record_id: batch.motif.hindu-ramayana-griffith-gutenberg-l32198-l32342
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
passage_locator:
label: Canto XXIV. The Host In Sight. / Canto XXV. The Battle. / Canto XXVIII. Khara
Dismounted. / Canto XLIII. The Wondrous Deer.; lines 32198-32342
start: '32198'
end: '32342'
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: Rama pursues a wondrous deer that repeatedly appears and vanishes, drawing
him far from his dwelling. He shoots it with a Brahma-framed arrow, and the deer
is revealed as Maricha, who dies after imitating Rama’s voice and calling for
Sita and Lakshman. Rama realizes the deception and fears for Sita. Sita hears
the false cry, urges Lakshman to go to Rama, and reproaches him when he does not
immediately leave.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Rama arms himself with a gold-hafted sword, a bow, and two quivers before
going out after the deer.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: The deer repeatedly flees, turns, appears, and disappears in the woods while
Rama pursues it.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: The passage identifies the deer as Maricha in a magical disguise and says
the pursuit draws Rama far from his cot.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: Rama shoots the deer with a Brahma-framed arrow that strikes Maricha in the
heart.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:5
text: After being struck, Maricha abandons the deer form, resumes his giant shape,
and dies.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:6
text: Before death, Maricha imitates Rama’s voice and calls to Sita and Lakshman.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:7
text: Maricha’s intended result is that Sita will send away her guard and Ravana
will seize her.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:8
text: Rama recognizes the slain foe as Maricha and becomes anxious that the false
cry may frighten Sita and Lakshman.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:9
text: Sita hears the cry as her husband’s and asks Lakshman to run into the wood
to save Rama.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:10
text: Lakshman does not immediately leave, and Sita reproaches him with accusations
and fear for her own fate if Rama is harmed.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Rama
description: Hero who pursues the wondrous deer, shoots Maricha, recognizes the
deception, and turns back toward his dwelling.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:5
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Maricha
description: A night-roving giant or fiend who appears as a wondrous deer, lures
Rama away, is shot, resumes giant form, and dies after imitating Rama’s voice.
role_refs:
- role:2
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Sita
description: Rama’s beloved, who hears Maricha’s false cry as Rama’s voice and urges
Lakshman to aid him.
role_refs:
- role:3
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Lakshman
description: Rama’s brother and Sita’s guardian, addressed by Maricha’s false cry
and by Sita, who asks him to seek Rama.
role_refs:
- role:3
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Ravana
description: Named as the one intended to seize Sita once her guard is sent away.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
roles:
- id: role:1
label: armed pursuer
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Rama takes weapons and pursues the deer through the wood.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: role:2
label: deceptive shapeshifter
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Maricha uses the magical deer disguise and later resumes giant form.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: role:3
label: target of deceptive cry
assigned_to:
- fig:3
- fig:4
basis: Maricha calls to Sita and Lakshman in a tone like Rama’s own.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:4
label: anxious returning hero
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: After recognizing Maricha, Rama fears the effect of the cry and hastens back.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:5
label: dying deceiver
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Maricha calls out in Rama’s voice before dying from Rama’s arrow.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: role:6
label: fearful beloved
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Sita fears Rama is in danger and laments what may happen if he is harmed.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: role:7
label: reluctant guardian
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Lakshman does not immediately move despite Sita’s appeal.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: role:8
label: intended abductor
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: Maricha thinks his cry will enable Ravana to seize Sita.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: wondrous deer disguise
literal_form: A beautiful deer form that appears, vanishes, and draws Rama through
the wood.
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs:
- shapeshifter
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: sym:2
label: Brahma-framed arrow
literal_form: An arrow made by Brahma, described as sparkling and flaming and compared
to a fiery serpent and Indra’s lightning.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
- serpent
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:3
label: borrowed voice
literal_form: Maricha’s imitation of Rama’s voice in the cry to Sita and Lakshman.
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:4
label: forest dwelling left unguarded
literal_form: Rama is drawn far from his cot, and Maricha intends Sita’s guard to
be sent away.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:4
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Arming and pursuit of the deer
summary: Rama arms himself and follows the elusive deer as it repeatedly appears
and disappears in the forest, drawing him away from home.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: scene:2
label: Maricha struck and unmasked
summary: Rama shoots the deer with a Brahma-framed arrow; the wounded creature casts
off the deer form, becomes Maricha, and dies.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: scene:3
label: False cry in Rama’s voice
summary: Before dying, Maricha calls to Sita and Lakshman in Rama’s voice, intending
to separate Sita from her guard so Ravana can seize her.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: scene:4
label: Rama’s alarm and return
summary: Rama recognizes Maricha’s trick, worries about Sita and Lakshman hearing
the false cry, and hastens back toward Janasthan and his dwelling.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: scene:5
label: Sita urges Lakshman to depart
summary: Sita hears the false cry as Rama’s, asks Lakshman to save him, and reproaches
Lakshman when he remains.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:1
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: Deceptive animal lure draws hero away
taxonomy_refs:
- shapeshifter
- trickster_boundary
basis: Maricha’s magical deer form repeatedly appears and disappears, luring Rama
far from his cot.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
confidence: high
cautions: The passage itself names the disguise and its immediate effect, but broader
classification as a trickster-boundary pattern is interpretive.
- id: motif:2
label: Shapeshifter revealed at death
taxonomy_refs:
- shapeshifter
basis: When Rama’s arrow strikes the deer, Maricha abandons the bright deer form
and resumes giant shape before dying.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
confidence: high
cautions: Limited to this passage’s explicit transformation sequence.
- id: motif:3
label: False distress call separates protector from beloved
taxonomy_refs:
- stolen_beloved
- trickster_boundary
basis: Maricha imitates Rama’s voice to make Sita send away Lakshman, so Ravana
can seize her.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:6
- ev:7
confidence: high
cautions: The actual seizure is only anticipated in this passage, not narrated here.
- id: motif:4
label: Divine or supernatural weapon slays deceiver
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Rama uses an arrow framed by Brahma to strike Maricha in the heart and end
the disguise.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
confidence: medium
cautions: No available taxonomy family directly matches the weapon motif.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 32198-32342; opening arming sequence
quote_or_summary: Rama warns his brother, takes a gold-hafted sword, bow, and two
quivers, and goes out eagerly.
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 32198-32342; deer pursuit sequence
quote_or_summary: The antlered deer flees, turns, appears, disappears, and in Maricha’s
magical disguise draws Rama far from his cot.
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 32198-32342; arrow and death sequence
quote_or_summary: Rama shoots the deer with a Brahma-framed arrow; it strikes Maricha’s
heart, and he casts off the deer form, resumes giant shape, and dies.
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 32198-32342; Maricha’s dying deception
quote_or_summary: Maricha plans that Sita may send her guard away and Ravana seize
her; he calls, “Ho, Sítá, Lakshmaṇ,” in a tone like Rama’s own.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; brief quotation used for evidence.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 32198-32342; Rama’s recognition and return
quote_or_summary: Rama recognizes the slain foe as Maricha, recalls Lakshman’s warning,
fears Sita and Lakshman heard the cry, and hastens back toward his dwelling.
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 32198-32342; Sita hears the cry
quote_or_summary: Sita hears what she thinks is Rama’s anguished cry and tells Lakshman
to run into the wood to save his brother.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: lines 32198-32342; Sita reproaches Lakshman
quote_or_summary: Lakshman does not immediately leave; Sita, frightened and tearful,
accuses him of refusing aid and fears being left desolate if Rama is harmed.
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: uncertain
notes: Literal sequence is clear in the supplied passage. Motif labels use only
supported available taxonomy references where applicable; no external comparison
claims are 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: |-
No comparison claims were added because the supplied passage does not itself make a comparative claim to another tradition or motif corpus.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:hindu-ramayana-griffith-gutenberg__l32198-l32342
passage_sha256=91459cd73689569da4804dba0e53df63ab330050229f616137fdf2b4b05e7ca4