batch.motif.hindu-ramayana-griffith-gutenberg-l32481-l32639
---
record_id: batch.motif.hindu-ramayana-griffith-gutenberg-l32481-l32639
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
passage_locator:
label: Canto XXV. The Battle. / Canto XXVIII. Khara Dismounted. / Canto XLIII. The
Wondrous Deer. / Canto XLVI. The Guest.; lines 32481-32639
start: '32481'
end: '32639'
translation: The Ramayan of Valmiki
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: "“A mendicant in guise he came / And stood before the Maithil dame.”"
summary: After Lakshmaṇ leaves Sītā to go to Rāma, Rāvaṇ comes in the guise of a
mendicant guest. Nature grows still and ominous as he approaches the lonely Sītā.
He flatters her beauty, questions her identity, and urges that the forest is unfit
and dangerous for her. Sītā, deceived by his Brahman appearance, offers him hospitality
with a seat, water for his feet, and woodland food, while Rāvaṇ inwardly longs
to steal her away.
language: English
quote_policy: quoted
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Lakshmaṇ leaves Sītā after her bitter words and goes quickly toward Rāma.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Rāvaṇ judges the moment favorable for his intended crime after both Rāma and
Lakshmaṇ are out of sight.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: Rāvaṇ appears before Sītā in the guise and clothing of a mendicant, with red
garb, tufted hair, sandals, a shade, a staff, and a water-vessel.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: As Rāvaṇ approaches, the trees do not move, the wind is still, and the Godāvarī’s
waters murmur mournfully.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:5
text: Sītā is sitting within a leafy cottage in a lone retreat, weeping for Rāma.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:6
text: Rāvaṇ speaks gently and praises Sītā’s appearance before asking who she is
and why she is in the forest without a guardian.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:7
text: Rāvaṇ describes the forest as inhabited by giants and dangerous animals such
as monkeys, bears, tigers, lions, hyenas, elephants, wolves, and bears.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:8
text: Sītā does not suspect Rāvaṇ because his saintly look and Brahman guise deceive
her.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:9
text: Sītā performs hospitable rites for the disguised stranger, offering a seat,
water for his feet, and woodland food.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:10
text: Rāvaṇ keeps looking at Sītā and inwardly longs to steal her away.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:11
text: Sītā watches anxiously for Rāma and Lakshmaṇ to return, but sees only the
forest around her.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Lakshmaṇ
description: Rāma’s companion who leaves Sītā after her bitter words and goes to
Rāma.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Rāvaṇ
description: The ten-necked figure who comes disguised as a mendicant, flatters
Sītā, and desires to steal her away.
role_refs:
- role:2
- role:3
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:5
- ev:7
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Sītā / Maithil dame
description: Rāma’s wife, lonely in the leafy cottage, deceived by Rāvaṇ’s Brahman
guise and performing hospitality for him.
role_refs:
- role:5
- role:6
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Rāma
description: Sītā’s lord, absent from the scene; Sītā watches for his return from
the chase with Lakshmaṇ.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:7
roles:
- id: role:1
label: departing guardian or companion
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Lakshmaṇ leaves Sītā and goes toward Rāma before Rāvaṇ appears.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:2
label: disguised intruder
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Rāvaṇ comes in the guise and clothing of a mendicant while intending a crime.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:3
label: deceptive guest
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: His Brahman appearance makes Sītā treat him as a holy guest.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: role:4
label: would-be abductor
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: He longs to steal Sītā away.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: role:5
label: isolated beloved or wife
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Sītā is alone, mourning for Rāma, while Rāma and Lakshmaṇ are away.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:7
- id: role:6
label: deceived host
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: She is deceived by the saintly and Brahman guise of the stranger and offers
hospitality.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: role:7
label: target of theft
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Rāvaṇ inwardly longs to steal her away.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: role:8
label: absent husband or lord
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Sītā is mourning for Rāma and watches for his return from the chase.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:7
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: mendicant disguise
literal_form: Red garb, tufted hair, sandals, shade, staff, and water-vessel of
a wandering Brahman or mendicant.
associated_figures:
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:6
- id: sym:2
label: water for the guest’s feet
literal_form: Water offered by Sītā for the disguised stranger to wash his feet.
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: sym:3
label: water-vessel
literal_form: A water-vessel carried from Rāvaṇ’s shoulder as part of the mendicant
appearance.
associated_figures:
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: sym:4
label: still trees and hushed wind
literal_form: Trees that do not wave a leaf and wind that does not blow as Rāvaṇ
approaches.
associated_figures:
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs:
- tree
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:5
label: leafy cottage
literal_form: The leafy cot where Sītā sits in her lone retreat.
associated_figures:
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs:
- tree
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:6
label: dangerous forest
literal_form: A forest described as inhabited by giants and wild animals.
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Lakshmaṇ departs
summary: Lakshmaṇ, troubled by Sītā’s bitter words and dark forebodings, goes quickly
to Rāma.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Rāvaṇ approaches in disguise
summary: Rāvaṇ sees his opportunity while the two chiefs are absent, dresses as
a mendicant, and approaches Sītā as nature becomes ominously still.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:3
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: scene:3
label: Flattery and questioning
summary: Rāvaṇ praises Sītā’s beauty, asks her identity, and presents the forest
as a place too dangerous and unsuitable for her.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: scene:4
label: Hospitality to the disguised guest
summary: Sītā trusts the apparent Brahman, offers him a seat, water for his feet,
and forest food, while Rāvaṇ secretly desires to abduct her.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: deity or demon disguised as holy guest
taxonomy_refs:
- shapeshifter
- trickster_boundary
basis: Rāvaṇ, a fiend, comes in mendicant/Brahman guise and deceives Sītā’s trusting
eyes.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:6
confidence: high
cautions: The passage emphasizes disguise and deceit; it does not describe a physical
transformation in detail.
- id: motif:2
label: hospitality exploited by a deceiver
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_exchange
- trickster_boundary
basis: Sītā performs guest rites for the disguised stranger, offering a seat, water,
and food, while he conceals hostile intent.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
confidence: high
cautions: The taxonomy reference to sacred exchange is functional rather than explicit;
the scene is primarily hospitality within deception.
- id: motif:3
label: isolated beloved targeted for abduction
taxonomy_refs:
- stolen_beloved
basis: Rāma and Lakshmaṇ are absent, Sītā is alone, and Rāvaṇ longs to steal her
away.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:7
confidence: high
cautions: Within this passage, the abduction is intended but not yet completed.
- id: motif:4
label: ominous natural stillness before danger
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Trees, wind, and the Godāvarī respond ominously as Rāvaṇ approaches Sītā.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
confidence: medium
cautions: This is a scene pattern rather than a supplied taxonomy family.
- id: motif:5
label: dangerous wilderness contrasted with palace life
taxonomy_refs:
- departure
basis: Rāvaṇ contrasts Sītā’s proper place in palaces and gardens with the forest
populated by giants and beasts.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
confidence: medium
cautions: The statement is part of Rāvaṇ’s persuasive speech and may be manipulative
within the scene.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 32481-32484
quote_or_summary: Lakshmaṇ, angry and foreboding after Sītā’s bitter words, goes
quickly to Rāma.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:2
type: quote
locator: lines 32485-32501
quote_or_summary: Rāvaṇ sees the time as favorable for his crime and comes as a
mendicant before Sītā, wearing red garb, tufted hair, sandals, shade, staff, and
water-vessel while Rāma and Lakshmaṇ are absent.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; brief quotation/paraphrase allowed.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 32502-32509
quote_or_summary: As Rāvaṇ draws near, the trees of Janasthān do not move, the wind
is hushed, and the Godāvarī’s waves give a melancholy murmur.
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 32510-32535
quote_or_summary: Rāvaṇ, in mendicant apparel and holy guise, finds Sītā mourning
for Rāma and sees her sitting weeping in her leafy cottage in a lone retreat.
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 32536-32612
quote_or_summary: Rāvaṇ gently addresses Sītā with extensive praise of her beauty,
asks her identity, and questions why she is alone in a forest of giants and wild
animals rather than in palaces and gardens.
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 32613-32631
quote_or_summary: Sītā is deceived by the stranger’s saintly look and Brahman guise,
gives him attention as a guest, offers a seat, water for his feet, and woodland
food.
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 32632-32639
quote_or_summary: Rāvaṇ keeps looking at Sītā and longs to steal her away, while
Sītā anxiously watches for Rāma and Lakshmaṇ but sees only the forest.
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 scene extraction is well supported by the passage. Motif taxonomy
mappings are plausible but should be reviewed, especially sacred_exchange and
departure.
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. No external comparison claims were added.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:hindu-ramayana-griffith-gutenberg__l32481-l32639
passage_sha256=bf2fc1aed55147a07e3a99a36a05d3d6e5230b78dffa61c390b72c6b07ded54a