batch.motif.hindu-ramayana-griffith-gutenberg-l45934-l46112
---
record_id: batch.motif.hindu-ramayana-griffith-gutenberg-l45934-l46112
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
passage_locator:
label: Canto XI. The Banquet Hall. / Canto XII. The Search Renewed. / Canto XIII.
Despair And Hope. / Canto XIV. The Asoka Grove.; lines 45934-46112
start: '45934'
end: '46112'
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 Vánar hidden in the boughs watches Ráma’s spouse in the Aśoka grove.
Rávan wakes, remembers his desire for her, and approaches with a royal female
retinue, attendants, lamps, food, wine, and insignia. Sítá is overcome with fear
and grief, lies on the ground among guarding she-demons, and thinks of Ráma. Rávan
speaks to her, urging her to abandon fear and grief, accept ornaments, luxury,
and queenship, forget Ráma, and become his bride.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: A Vánar watches Ráma’s spouse from a shelter in the boughs.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Priests who know the Vedas raise hymns of prayer and praise, and music wakes
the giant monarch.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: The giant monarch remembers the queen he desires and goes toward the Aśoka
grove.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: The monarch is accompanied by many women carrying fans, lamps, water in golden
urns, food, wine, a silken shade, and a sceptre.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:5
text: The grove contains flowers, fruit, birds, deer, and a streamlet.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:6
text: Sítá becomes afraid when she sees the monarch, lowers her eyes, folds her
arms across her breast, and tries to screen herself from his gaze.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:7
text: Sítá lies on the bare earth among guarding she-demons, weeping and thinking
of her lord.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: obs:8
text: Rávan asks Sítá to love him, offers ornaments, rich food, a bed, music, rule
over his household, jewels, conquered lands, and queenship.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: obs:9
text: Rávan says that by his people’s custom force may be used to seize women, but
says he will not touch the lady he loves by force.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:10
text: Rávan disparages Ráma as poor, dethroned, wandering, possibly dead, and unable
to see Sítá again.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: The Vánar
description: A Vánar hidden in the boughs who watches Ráma’s spouse and later observes
the royal arrival.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Ráma’s spouse / Sítá
description: The lady in the Aśoka grove, afraid and grieving, guarded by she-demons,
and addressed by Rávan as the object of his wooing.
role_refs:
- role:2
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: The giant monarch / Rávan
description: The giant king who wakes, approaches the Aśoka grove in royal state,
burns with desire, and urges Sítá to become his bride.
role_refs:
- role:4
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Female royal retinue
description: A hundred women and other attendants accompanying the monarch, carrying
fans, lamps, water, food, wine, a silken shade, and a sceptre.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Priests skilled in rite and ritual
description: Priests who know the Vedas and their branches and raise hymns of prayer
and praise.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Wild she-demons
description: Female demons who keep watch around Sítá in the grove.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Ráma
description: Sítá’s lord, absent from the scene, remembered by Sítá and disparaged
in Rávan’s speech.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:8
roles:
- id: role:1
label: hidden observer
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The Vánar watches from a shelter in the boughs and observes the monarch’s
arrival.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
- id: role:2
label: captive or guarded lady
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Sítá is surrounded by she-demons who keep watch and lies in fear and grief.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: role:3
label: beloved wife of absent lord
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: She is called Ráma’s spouse and her thoughts fly to her lord.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:6
- id: role:4
label: desiring monarch
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Rávan wakes with desire for the queen and presses an amorous suit.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:7
- id: role:5
label: wooer and captor figure
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: He speaks of seizing women by force, offers gifts and power, and asks Sítá
to become his bride.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: role:6
label: royal attendants
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: They accompany the monarch and carry luxury objects and royal insignia.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:7
label: ritual specialists
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: They are described as priests skilled in rite and ritual who know the Vedas.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:8
label: guards
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: The she-demons keep watch around Sítá.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:9
label: absent husband
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: Sítá thinks of her lord, while Rávan urges her to forget Ráma.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:8
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: Aśoka grove
literal_form: Flowering and fruiting grove with boughs, birds, deer, and a streamlet.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs:
- tree
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: sym:2
label: Fire and torchlight
literal_form: Gold and silver torches with scented oil; Rávan’s desire is also described
with fire imagery.
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: sym:3
label: Water in grove and urns
literal_form: A streamlet in the grove and purest water carried in golden urns.
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: sym:4
label: Royal luxury objects
literal_form: Gold fans, lamps, urns, plates of food, gemmed wine bowls, silken
shade, sceptre, ornaments, pearls, and rich vesture.
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: sym:5
label: Bare earth
literal_form: The cold or bare earth on which Sítá lies in grief.
associated_figures:
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:7
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Hidden observation in the grove
summary: The Vánar watches Ráma’s spouse from the boughs while ritual hymns and
music are heard and the giant monarch wakes.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Rávan’s royal approach to the Aśoka grove
summary: Rávan remembers Sítá, approaches the grove with a large female retinue
and royal objects, and is viewed by the hidden Vánar.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
- sym:3
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: scene:3
label: Sítá’s fear and grief
summary: Sítá sees Rávan, becomes fearful, shields herself, weeps among the guarding
she-demons, lies on the ground, and thinks of Ráma.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:6
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: scene:4
label: Rávan’s wooing speech
summary: Rávan urges Sítá not to fear, asks for her love, offers adornment, pleasure,
wealth, conquered lands, and queenship, and tells her to forget Ráma.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: Stolen or captive beloved pressured by rival suitor
taxonomy_refs:
- stolen_beloved
basis: The passage presents Ráma’s spouse held among guarding she-demons while Rávan,
who speaks of forcefully seizing women, urges her to become his bride and forget
Ráma.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:5
- ev:7
- ev:8
confidence: high
cautions: The excerpt does not narrate the original abduction itself; it shows the
captive condition and the captor’s wooing.
- id: motif:2
label: Hidden helper observes imprisoned beloved
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: A Vánar hidden in the boughs watches Ráma’s spouse and observes Rávan’s approach,
suggesting a reconnaissance scene around the captive woman.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage does not yet show intervention or rescue by the observer.
- id: motif:3
label: Temptation through royal wealth and power
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Rávan offers ornaments, luxurious pleasures, jewels, kingdom, conquest, and
queenship as inducements for Sítá to accept him.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
confidence: high
cautions: This is a plain narrative pattern rather than a supplied taxonomy family.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 45934-45943
quote_or_summary: A Vánar watches Ráma’s spouse from the boughs; priests skilled
in ritual and the Vedas raise hymns, and music wakes the giant monarch.
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 45944-45955
quote_or_summary: The giant monarch remembers the fair queen he desires and goes
toward the Aśoka grove, described with flowers, fruit, birds, deer, and a streamlet.
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 45956-45983
quote_or_summary: Rávan approaches with a hundred women and attendants bearing fans,
lamps, pure water in golden urns, food, wine, a silken shade, and a sceptre; torches
burn with scented oil.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 45984-46003
quote_or_summary: Rávan’s desire is described with fire imagery; the Vánar sees
him standing in the center of a ring of noble women like the full moon among stars.
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 46004-46021
quote_or_summary: Sítá becomes afraid when she sees the monarch, lowers her eyes,
folds her arms over her breast, screens herself, and weeps where wild she-demons
keep watch.
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 46022-46039
quote_or_summary: Sítá lies prone on the bare earth in despair, thinking of her
lord, and is compared to images of ruin, eclipse, and loss.
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 46040-46078
quote_or_summary: Rávan begins an amorous address, asks Sítá not to hide, says no
giant or man is near, speaks of a right to seize women by force, but says he will
not touch her with rude hands; he urges her to accept ornaments, scents, food,
a bed, music, and adornment.
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 46079-46112
quote_or_summary: Rávan praises Sítá’s beauty, urges her to become his bride, offers
jewels, his kingdom, conquered lands, and rule, claims no god or man can withstand
him, disparages Ráma, and asks her to become queen over his consorts.
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: Extraction is based only on the supplied excerpt. Motif identification is
strongest for the captive or stolen beloved pattern; broader comparative claims
are not made because the passage itself does not establish them.
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: |-
All observations, roles, symbols, scenes, and motif candidates are tied to supplied passage evidence. No external narrative context was used.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:hindu-ramayana-griffith-gutenberg__l45934-l46112
passage_sha256=5f2a8db492cc0a5ca05864e9918ac3b4a6424fd365817b75f0a8003c6b05f800