batch.motif.hindu-ramayana-griffith-gutenberg-l35739-l35838
---
record_id: batch.motif.hindu-ramayana-griffith-gutenberg-l35739-l35838
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
passage_locator:
label: Canto XLIII. The Wondrous Deer. / Canto XLVI. The Guest. / Canto LI. The
Combat. / Canto LX. Lakshman Reproved.; lines 35739-35838
start: '35739'
end: '35838'
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: A dying royal vulture tells Rāma something about the giant who took Sītā,
then dies. Rāma laments the bird as a noble defender who fought to free Sītā,
conducts funeral rites with Lakshman, offers food and water libations at the Godāvarī,
and the vulture is said to rise to a blissful seat. The brothers then turn again
to seeking the captor of Sītā.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: The royal vulture speaks while wounded and bleeding, then dies.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Rāma asks the vulture to speak again, but the life has left the body.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: Rāma states that the vulture fought to free Sītā from the giant's hold and
died for his sake.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:4
text: Rāma compares the vulture's honor to that of Daśaratha and orders fuel for
a funeral rite.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:5
text: Rāma places the bird on a pyre and kindles fire to burn the body.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:6
text: Rāma and Lakshman obtain deer flesh, make it into balls, and lay it on grass
as part of the rites.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:7
text: Rāma recites solemn words and texts for the dead so that the departed soul
may rise and pass to the skies.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:8
text: The brothers go to the Godāvarī and pour stream libations for the vulture
lord.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:9
text: The vulture monarch is said to soar to a blissful seat after being honored
by Rāma.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:10
text: After completing the rites, the brothers ponder how to trace the captor of
the dame.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Rāma
description: A royal hero who laments and performs funeral rites for the vulture.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:7
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Lakshman
description: Rāma's brother, present beside him during the lament, rites, and return
from the stream.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:5
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: the royal vulture / vulture monarch
description: A great bird, described as royal and lord of birds, wounded after fighting
the giant and dying before Rāma.
role_refs:
- role:4
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:8
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Sītā
description: Rāma's queen, described as held by the giant and as the dame whose
captor the brothers seek.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:8
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: the giant / captor
description: A giant who held Sītā and slew the vulture; the brothers seek him as
the captor of the dame.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:8
roles:
- id: role:1
label: mourner
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Rāma is distressed by the vulture's death and laments him as noble and revered.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: role:2
label: funeral officiant
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Rāma orders the funeral fire, places the bird on the pyre, says texts for
the dead, and pours libations.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: role:3
label: brotherly companion in rites and search
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Lakshman is addressed by Rāma, stands with him during the rites, and leaves
the stream with him to seek the captor.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:5
- ev:8
- id: role:4
label: heroic defender
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: The vulture fought to free Sītā from the giant and gave his life in the struggle.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:5
label: honored dead
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: The vulture receives funeral fire, offerings, libations, and is said to soar
to a blissful seat.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: role:6
label: abducted beloved
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Sītā is described as Rāma's queen held by the giant, and the brothers seek
her captor.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:8
- id: role:7
label: giant captor and killer
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: The giant is said to have held Sītā and slain Rāma's champion, and is the
captor being sought.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:8
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: funeral fire
literal_form: kindled flame and burning pyre
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: sym:2
label: water libation
literal_form: Godāvarī stream water poured in honor of the vulture lord
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: sym:3
label: food offering for the dead
literal_form: venison made into balls and laid on grass
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: sym:4
label: celestial seat
literal_form: bright celestial seats and blissful seat above
associated_figures:
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:8
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: The dying vulture speaks and dies
summary: The wounded royal vulture answers Rāma, identifies the giant by lineage
in brief terms, and dies as blood flows from him.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:5
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: scene:2
label: Rāma laments the vulture's sacrifice
summary: Rāma tells Lakshman that the vulture lived in Daṇḍak forest, fought to
free Sītā from the giant, and died nobly for his sake.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: scene:3
label: Funeral fire and offerings
summary: Rāma lays the bird on a pyre, lights the flame, prepares venison balls,
and recites texts for the dead so the soul may rise.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:3
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: scene:4
label: Libations at the Godāvarī and renewed search
summary: The brothers pour water libations for the vulture lord, bathe, and after
the rites turn back to seek Sītā's captor.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: Stolen beloved sought by the hero
taxonomy_refs:
- stolen_beloved
basis: Sītā is described as held by a giant, and the brothers later ponder how to
trace the captor of the dame.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:8
confidence: high
cautions: The passage presupposes the abduction rather than narrating the taking
itself.
- id: motif:2
label: Heroic animal ally dies defending the beloved
taxonomy_refs:
- sacrifice
basis: The vulture fought to free Sītā and gave his life for Rāma's sake, then is
honored as a champion.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
confidence: high
cautions: The taxonomy reference is used for self-giving death, not for a ritual
sacrificial killing.
- id: motif:3
label: Funeral rites enable ascent of the dead
taxonomy_refs:
- ascent
basis: Rāma performs fire rites, food offerings, recitations, and water libations
so the departed soul may rise to the skies; the vulture is then said to soar to
a blissful seat.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage describes postmortem ascent and bliss, but not a detailed
afterlife journey map.
- id: motif:4
label: Honoring a nonhuman defender as a noble friend
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Rāma treats the vulture as a revered lord of birds and performs full funeral
honors for him.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:7
- ev:8
confidence: high
cautions: No supplied taxonomy family directly names this motif.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 35739-35746
quote_or_summary: The royal vulture replies while badly wounded and bleeding, identifies
the giant by lineage as brother of the Lord of Gold and son of Viśravas, then
dies.
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 35747-35754
quote_or_summary: Rāma asks the vulture to speak again with reverent hands, but
the spirit has fled and the body lies on the ground.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:3
type: quote
locator: lines 35765-35778
quote_or_summary: "“See, Lakshmaṇ, how the vulture fell / While for my sake he battled
well. / And strove to free ... / My Sítá from the giant’s hold.”"
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short excerpt.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 35779-35802
quote_or_summary: Rāma says the vulture gave his noble life, calls him revered like
Daśaratha, orders fuel for funeral fire, and blesses him to depart to bright celestial
seats.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 35803-35808
quote_or_summary: Grieving, Rāma lays the bird on the pyre and kindles the flame
to burn the body of his friend.
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 35809-35818
quote_or_summary: Rāma and Lakshman go into the forest, slay deer, make the venison
into balls, lay them on grass, and recite words and texts over the dead so the
soul may rise to the skies.
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 35819-35826
quote_or_summary: The brothers go to the bright Godāvarī, pour stream libations
in honor of the vulture lord according to holy texts, give offerings, and bathe.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: lines 35827-35838
quote_or_summary: After the vulture monarch's hard and glorious feat, he is honored
by Rāma and soars to a blissful seat; once the rites are completed, the brothers
leave the stream and ponder how to trace the captor of the dame.
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 extraction is well supported by the supplied passage. Motif taxonomy
assignments are cautious, especially where the taxonomy term is broader than the
specific episode.
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 provided passage and metadata were used. The passage itself does not provide enough basis for external comparison claims, so comparison_claims is empty.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:hindu-ramayana-griffith-gutenberg__l35739-l35838
passage_sha256=680ef527a366fb741dddb60bf987acc98d8a2237dd7d86c70ab9ce5e31ce4480