batch.motif.hindu-ramayana-griffith-gutenberg-l44922-l45050
---
record_id: batch.motif.hindu-ramayana-griffith-gutenberg-l44922-l45050
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
passage_locator:
label: Canto LII. The Exit. / Canto LXIV. The Sea. / Canto LXV. The Council. / BOOK
V.(787); lines 44922-45050
start: '44922'
end: '45050'
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: Hanuman, traveling across the sea as Rama’s messenger to find Sita in Lanka,
is challenged by a terrifying sea-rising figure who demands that he enter her
mouth. He enlarges himself, then shrinks, passes through her mouth, and is blessed
to continue. He is then seized by the demon Sinhika, who catches his shadow; Hanuman
enters her mouth, tears her body, emerges, and continues to Lanka, where he lands
on Lamba’s peak and sees the city.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: A godlike dame, clad in a terrifying form, springs from the middle of the
sea and tells Hanuman that he is to be her food by heaven’s decree because of
a boon from Brahma.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Hanuman replies that Ravana stole Sita, Rama’s Maithil spouse, and that he
goes as Rama’s willing messenger to see her.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: The sea-rising figure tells Hanuman to enter her mouth before continuing his
journey.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:4
text: Hanuman enlarges his body while the figure widens her jaws; then he shrinks
smaller than a thumb, enters her mouth, turns, and springs out.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:5
text: After Hanuman has passed through her mouth, the figure returns to her former
shape and wishes success and joy for his mission.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:6
text: Sinhika, a demon who changes form, sees Hanuman traveling through the air
and catches his passing shadow, which halts him.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:7
text: Hanuman recognizes Sinhika as the demon described by Sugriva, whose grasp
can hold a passing shadow.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:8
text: Hanuman enlarges, then compresses his body, enters Sinhika’s wide-open mouth,
tears her form within, emerges, and kills her.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:9
text: Spirits in the sky praise Hanuman’s fight and urge him to continue and succeed.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:10
text: Hanuman reaches the island, lands on Lamba’s peak, and sees Lanka shining
on the mountain like a crown.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Hanuman, the Vanar chief
description: A Vanar prince and messenger traveling through the air over the sea
to find Sita for Rama.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:4
- ev:8
- ev:10
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Daksha’s child, the godlike dame from the sea
description: A female being who appears from the sea in a terrifying form, demands
that Hanuman enter her mouth, and later blesses his mission after he passes through
it.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:5
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Brahma
description: The deity whose favor granted the sea-rising figure a boon mentioned
in her speech.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Rama
description: Daśaratha’s son, whose wife Sita has been stolen and who sends Hanuman
as messenger.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Sita, the Maithil queen
description: Rama’s Maithil spouse, stolen by Ravana and sought by Hanuman.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:5
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Ravana, king of giants
description: The king of giants who stole Sita from Rama.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Sinhika
description: A form-changing demon who catches Hanuman’s shadow, opens her jaws
to seize him, and is killed from within.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Sugriva, the Vanar monarch
description: The Vanar monarch whose account of a shadow-grasping demon is remembered
by Hanuman.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: Hosts of spirits
description: Spirits who observe Hanuman and praise his daring and his victory over
Sinhika.
role_refs:
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
roles:
- id: role:1
label: messenger on a rescue mission
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Hanuman says he goes by Rama’s behest as a willing messenger to captive Sita.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:2
label: heroic obstacle-overcomer
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Hanuman passes through the first challenger’s mouth and later kills Sinhika
after entering her mouth.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:8
- id: role:3
label: boon-bound tester or challenger
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: She demands that Hanuman enter her mouth because of Brahma’s boon, then releases
and blesses him after the condition is fulfilled.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:5
- id: role:4
label: boon-giver
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: The sea-rising figure attributes her claim over Hanuman to Brahma’s favoring
will and gift.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- id: role:5
label: sender and bereaved husband
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Hanuman says he travels by Rama’s command after Sita was stolen from him.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:6
label: abducted beloved sought by messenger
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: Sita is described as Rama’s spouse and the joy of his soul, stolen by Ravana
and sought by Hanuman.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:7
label: abductor
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: Ravana is said to have stolen Sita.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:8
label: predatory shadow-seizing demon
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: Sinhika marks Hanuman for prey, catches his shadow, and attempts to seize
him with her jaws.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:8
- id: role:9
label: prior informant
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: Hanuman recalls Sugriva’s report about the demon whose grasp can hold a passing
shadow.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: role:10
label: celestial witnesses and praisers
assigned_to:
- fig:9
basis: The spirits watch, praise Hanuman’s daring and victory, and urge him onward.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: sea as obstacle-space
literal_form: The middle of the sea, briny deep, distant shore, and surrounding
oceanic passage.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:6
- ev:10
- id: sym:2
label: mouth or jaws as passage threshold
literal_form: The widened jaws and mouth through which Hanuman enters and exits
in two encounters.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:8
- id: sym:3
label: shadow seized as vulnerable double
literal_form: Hanuman’s passing shadow is caught by Sinhika, stopping his motion
through the air.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: sym:4
label: altered bodily size
literal_form: Hanuman enlarges, shrinks smaller than a thumb, and later compresses
his enlarged body.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:8
- id: sym:5
label: mountain arrival point
literal_form: Lamba’s peak and Lanka shining on the mountain like a crown.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs:
- mountain
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Sea-rising challenger demands Hanuman as food
summary: A terrifying female figure springs from the sea, cites Brahma’s boon, and
demands that Hanuman enter her mouth; Hanuman explains his mission to find Sita
for Rama.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: scene:2
label: Hanuman passes through the challenger’s mouth
summary: Hanuman enlarges himself as the figure widens her jaws, then shrinks, enters
and exits her mouth, and receives her blessing to continue.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: scene:3
label: Sinhika seizes Hanuman’s shadow and is killed
summary: Sinhika catches Hanuman’s shadow, opens her jaws to seize him, and Hanuman
enters her mouth, tears her body, emerges, and kills her.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:7
- fig:8
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
- sym:3
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: scene:4
label: Celestial praise and arrival at Lanka
summary: Spirits praise Hanuman and urge him onward; he continues through the air,
reaches the island, lands on Lamba’s peak, and sees Lanka.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:9
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: abducted beloved sought by heroic messenger
taxonomy_refs:
- stolen_beloved
basis: The passage states that Ravana stole Sita, Rama’s spouse, and that Hanuman
travels as Rama’s messenger to see her and bring her back.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:5
confidence: high
cautions: The passage gives the mission context but not the original abduction scene
itself.
- id: motif:2
label: quest across dangerous waters toward a captive woman
taxonomy_refs:
- mystical_quest
basis: Hanuman crosses the sea through supernatural obstacles to trace the Maithil
queen in Lanka.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:6
- ev:10
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage presents a mission journey, but broader quest structure depends
on surrounding text not included here.
- id: motif:3
label: shape-changing and size-changing contest
taxonomy_refs:
- shapeshifter
basis: The sea-rising figure assumes a terrifying form; Sinhika changes form; Hanuman
repeatedly enlarges, shrinks, and compresses his body to overcome obstacles.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
- ev:6
- ev:8
confidence: high
cautions: Hanuman’s size-changing is explicit; the exact nature of the first figure’s
transformation is limited to the passage’s description.
- id: motif:4
label: clever passage through a monster’s mouth
taxonomy_refs:
- trickster_boundary
basis: Hanuman satisfies the demand to enter the challenger’s mouth by shrinking,
passing through, and exiting without being eaten.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage frames Hanuman as heroic rather than as a trickster; the motif
label is based on the boundary-crossing stratagem.
- id: motif:5
label: monster swallowed or entered and defeated from within
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Hanuman enters Sinhika’s open mouth, tears her body from within, emerges,
and kills her.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
confidence: high
cautions: No supplied taxonomy reference directly names this motif family.
- id: motif:6
label: shadow capture as magical restraint
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Sinhika stops Hanuman by catching his passing shadow, matching Sugriva’s
warning about a demon whose grasp can hold a shadow.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
confidence: high
cautions: No supplied taxonomy reference directly corresponds to shadow seizure.
comparison_claims:
- id: claim:1
claim: 'The passage repeats a mouth-obstacle pattern: Hanuman is confronted by beings
who open their mouths to obstruct or consume him, and he overcomes each by altering
his size and entering the mouth. The first episode ends in recognition and blessing,
while the second ends in the demon’s death.'
claim_level: same_motif
target: repeated mouth-entry obstacle pattern within this passage
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:8
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: high
limitations: This is an internal pattern comparison only; it does not establish
historical contact, common inheritance, or comparison with an external tradition.
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 44922-44933
quote_or_summary: A godlike dame appears from the middle of the sea in a terrifying
form and says the Vanar is to be her food by heaven’s decree, citing a boon from
Brahma.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized evidence.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 44934-44948
quote_or_summary: Hanuman says Rama and Sita lived in Dandaka, Ravana stole Sita,
and he goes as Rama’s willing messenger to see her.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized evidence.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 44949-44952
quote_or_summary: The figure rejects Hanuman’s promise to return and tells him to
enter her mouth before continuing his journey.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized evidence.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 44953-44966
quote_or_summary: Hanuman grows in size as her jaws widen, then shrinks smaller
than a thumb, enters her mouth, turns, and springs out.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized evidence.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 44967-44976
quote_or_summary: Hanuman says he has passed within her mouth; she returns to her
former shape and blesses his mission to bring the rescued lady to Rama.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized evidence.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: lines 44977-44996
quote_or_summary: Sinhika, a form-changing demon, sees Hanuman in the air, marks
him for prey, catches his passing shadow, and thereby stops him.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized evidence.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: lines 44997-45003
quote_or_summary: Hanuman identifies the monster as the demon described by Sugriva,
whose grasp can hold a passing shadow.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized evidence.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: lines 45004-45018
quote_or_summary: Sinhika opens her jaws wide; Hanuman enlarges, then compresses
himself, enters her mouth, tears her body, emerges quickly, and kills her.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized evidence.
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: lines 45019-45028
quote_or_summary: Spirits in the sky see the demon die, praise Hanuman’s valor,
thought, and skill, and urge him to succeed.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized evidence.
- id: ev:10
type: summary
locator: lines 45029-45050
quote_or_summary: Hanuman continues through the air, nears the shore, sees the island,
lands on Lamba’s peak, and looks on Lanka shining on the mountain like a crown.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized evidence.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: medium
notes: Literal extraction is well supported by the supplied passage. Motif assignment
is limited to available taxonomy refs and to motifs directly evidenced in the
passage; broader epic context was not used.
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 provided passage and metadata. No external comparison traditions or unsupported taxonomy IDs were added.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:hindu-ramayana-griffith-gutenberg__l44922-l45050
passage_sha256=d4bc139fbc896cd120c37e0713df40ae5787a2d5cc78401db3a71d812316edf1