batch.motif.hindu-ramayana-griffith-gutenberg-l48588-l48746
---
record_id: batch.motif.hindu-ramayana-griffith-gutenberg-l48588-l48746
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
passage_locator:
label: Canto LVIII. The Feast Of Honey. / Canto LXV. The Tidings. / BOOK VI.(895)
/ Canto IV. The March.; lines 48588-48746
start: '48588'
end: '48746'
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: After Hanumán has entered and burned Lanká, Rávan addresses his lords about
danger and counsel. His counsellors dismiss fear, recall Rávan’s past victories
over divine, serpent, and other powerful beings, and urge reliance on Indrajít
and other Rákshas champions. Prahasta and Durmukh offer to attack the Vánars and
protect the city; Vajradanshṭra is introduced brandishing a bloody spiked mace.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: The giant king surveys his ruined city and addresses his lords.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Hanumán is described as a Vánar spy who entered Lanká, evaded the watch, saw
the captive queen, set the royal roof aflame, killed leading lords, and left the
city desolate.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: Rávan distinguishes better and worse forms of royal decision-making and asks
his lords to deliberate and advise him.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:4
text: Rávan says that Ráma is approaching with thousands of wild allies and may
lead his troops across the flood or drain the sea channels.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:5
text: The counsellors urge Rávan not to fear and cite his past victories over Serpent-Gods,
Mount Kailása, Kuvera and Yakshas, serpents in hell, Varuṇ’s sons, Yáma, and a
warrior tribe.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: obs:6
text: The counsellors say that Indrajít, Rávan’s son, can win the battle if Rávan
permits him.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:7
text: Prahasta says Hanumán succeeded by disguise and surprise, and offers to sweep
the Vánars from the land and devise guards against surprise.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:8
text: Durmukh vows to punish the disgrace of the burning city and to drive the Vánars
away.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:9
text: Vajradanshṭra is introduced brandishing a spiked mace stained with gore.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Rávan
description: The giant king of Lanká, whose city has been burned and who convenes
counsel among his lords.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Hanumán
description: The Wind-God’s son and Vánar spy who entered Lanká, saw the captive
queen, burned buildings, killed lords, and escaped.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:8
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: The captive queen
description: A queen held captive in Lanká and seen by Hanumán.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Ráma
description: A vengeful leader approaching Lanká with thousands of wild allies.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Rávan’s lords and counsellors
description: The assembled lords who answer Rávan, encourage him, and recall his
former conquests.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:5
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Indrajít
description: Rávan’s matchless son, proposed as the one who can win the fight.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Prahasta
description: A dark, dreadful Rákshas speaker who offers to destroy the Vánars and
guard the city.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Durmukh
description: A Rákshas speaker who calls for retaliation and vows to drive the Vánars
away.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: Vajradanshṭra
description: A furious figure introduced while brandishing a gore-stained spiked
mace.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: fig:10
name_or_label: Serpent-Gods, Vásuki, Śankha, and Takshak
description: Serpent beings listed among those previously overcome by Rávan.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: fig:11
name_or_label: Kuvera and Yakshas
description: Kuvera and his Yaksha crew are said to have been overthrown by Rávan
at Mount Kailása or a mountain citadel.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:12
name_or_label: Maya and Maya’s daughter
description: Maya is said to have come to Rávan as a suppliant and won him with
his daughter’s hand.
role_refs:
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:13
name_or_label: Yáma
description: The king with a murdering mace, said to have been encountered and defeated
by Rávan.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
roles:
- id: role:1
label: giant king
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The passage identifies the speaker surveying Lanká as the giant king.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:2
label: crisis ruler seeking counsel
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Rávan analyzes kinds of counsel and asks his lords to advise him.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:3
label: enemy spy and city-burner
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Hanumán is called the Vánar spy who entered Lanká, saw the queen, burned
the roof, and left the city desolate.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:4
label: captive queen
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: The passage says Hanumán saw the captive queen.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:5
label: approaching avenger and army leader
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Ráma is described as vengeful and approaching with thousands of allies to
cross or overcome the sea.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:6
label: royal counsellors
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: They are asked to consult and respond to Rávan with advice and encouragement.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:5
- id: role:7
label: champion son
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: Indrajít is called Rávan’s matchless son and proposed as the one who can
win the fight.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: role:8
label: Rákshas war speaker
assigned_to:
- fig:7
- fig:8
- fig:9
basis: Prahasta and Durmukh speak as Rákshas champions offering attack or defense;
Vajradanshṭra is introduced armed and furious.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:10
- id: role:9
label: former defeated opponent
assigned_to:
- fig:10
- fig:11
- fig:13
basis: The counsellors list these beings among those overcome by Rávan in earlier
victories.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: role:10
label: marriage-alliance figures
assigned_to:
- fig:12
basis: Maya is said to have come as a suppliant and to have given his daughter’s
hand to Rávan.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: burning city and royal roof
literal_form: flames on Rávan’s royal roof and Lanká laid in ruin
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:9
- id: sym:2
label: sea as obstacle to invasion
literal_form: flood, conquered main, and sea channels that Ráma’s troops may cross
or drain
associated_figures:
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:3
label: serpent beings
literal_form: Serpent-Gods, Vásuki, Śankha, and Takshak
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:10
taxonomy_refs:
- serpent
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: sym:4
label: Mount Kailása and mountain citadel
literal_form: Mount Kailása and a mountain citadel associated with Kuvera and the
Yakshas
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:11
taxonomy_refs:
- mountain
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: sym:5
label: magic car
literal_form: a marvel of a magic car brought from afar after Kuvera’s servants
fell
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:11
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: sym:6
label: murdering mace and spiked mace
literal_form: Yáma’s murdering mace and Vajradanshṭra’s gore-stained spiked mace
associated_figures:
- fig:9
- fig:13
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:10
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Rávan’s crisis council after Hanumán’s raid
summary: Rávan observes ruined Lanká, recounts Hanumán’s infiltration and destruction,
explains the importance of counsel, and asks his lords for advice.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: scene:2
label: Impending approach across the sea
summary: Rávan warns that vengeful Ráma is coming with thousands of allies and may
bring troops across the flood or drain the sea.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: scene:3
label: Counsellors encourage Rávan by recalling past victories
summary: The counsellors dismiss fear and list Rávan’s former conquests over serpent
beings, mountain powers, divine or semi-divine opponents, and warrior hosts.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:5
- fig:10
- fig:11
- fig:12
- fig:13
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
- sym:4
- sym:5
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: scene:4
label: Indrajít proposed as champion
summary: The counsellors urge Rávan to remain at home and allow Indrajít to win
the fight.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:5
- fig:6
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: scene:5
label: Rákshas champions offer retaliation
summary: Prahasta offers to destroy the Vánars and guard against surprise; Durmukh
vows to drive them away; Vajradanshṭra is introduced armed with a bloody spiked
mace.
figure_refs:
- fig:7
- fig:8
- fig:9
symbol_refs:
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:10
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: royal counsel in crisis
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
basis: Rávan explicitly ranks types of rulers and counsel, then asks his lords to
deliberate on the peril before them.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
confidence: high
cautions: The motif is expressed as political instruction and deliberation, not
as an independent wisdom tale.
- id: motif:2
label: captive queen as cause of approaching conflict
taxonomy_refs:
- stolen_beloved
basis: Hanumán has seen the captive queen, and Rávan immediately warns that vengeful
Ráma is approaching with allies.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:4
confidence: medium
cautions: This passage names her only as the captive queen and does not narrate
the original abduction or any rescue.
- id: motif:3
label: sea crossing or sea-draining invasion
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Rávan predicts that Ráma will lead troops across the flood or drain the channels
of the sea.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
confidence: high
cautions: The passage presents this as a forecast or fear, not as an action already
completed within the excerpt.
- id: motif:4
label: conquest of serpent powers
taxonomy_refs:
- serpent
basis: Rávan’s counsellors recall that he slew Serpent-Gods and forced Vásuki, Śankha,
and Takshak to acknowledge his might.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
confidence: high
cautions: The passage gives a boastful retrospective list rather than a full serpent-combat
episode.
- id: motif:5
label: storming the sacred mountain stronghold
taxonomy_refs:
- cosmic_mountain
basis: Rávan is praised for scaling Mount Kailása and overthrowing Kuvera and the
Yaksha crew in a mountain citadel.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
confidence: medium
cautions: Only Mount Kailása is named; the passage does not elaborate its cosmological
role.
- id: motif:6
label: defeat of the death-king
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The counsellors say Rávan encountered and defeated Yáma, the dread king with
a murdering mace, amid death, woe, and torment.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
confidence: medium
cautions: This is a retrospective boast embedded in counsel, not the full narrative
of an underworld or death encounter.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 48588-48594
quote_or_summary: The giant king surveys his glorious town laid in ruin by Hanumán,
the Wind-God’s son, and addresses his lords in shame and anger.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:2
type: quote
locator: lines 48595-48604
quote_or_summary: "“The Vánar spy has passed the gate / Of Lanká long inviolate
... seen / With his bold eyes the captive queen”; Rávan adds that his roof is
aflame, lords are dead, and the city is desolate."
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short quotation and summary.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 48605-48642
quote_or_summary: Rávan explains that victory springs from counsel, ranks rulers
who seek counsel above those who plan alone or act rashly, distinguishes good
and bad deliberation, and asks the lords to consult.
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 48643-48648
quote_or_summary: "“With thousands of his wild allies / The vengeful Ráma hither
hies”; Rávan says Ráma may lead troops across the flood or drain the sea channels."
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short quotation and summary.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 48651-48674
quote_or_summary: The lords dismiss Rávan’s fear, describe his army, and recall
his victories over the Serpent-Gods, Mount Kailása, Kuvera and Yakshas, his taking
of the magic car, and Maya’s marriage alliance through his daughter.
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 48675-48706
quote_or_summary: The lords recall Rávan’s victories over Vásuki, Śankha, Takshak,
Varuṇ’s sons, Yáma with his mace, and a powerful warrior tribe.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:7
type: quote
locator: lines 48707-48714
quote_or_summary: "“But let the easy fight be won / By Indrajít thy matchless son.
/ All, all shall die, if thou permit, / Slain by the hand of Indrajít.”"
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short quotation.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: lines 48717-48734
quote_or_summary: Prahasta says divine and cosmic hosts have yielded to Rávan, claims
Hanumán came disguised and surprised them, and offers to sweep the Vánars away
and guard the city.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: lines 48735-48743
quote_or_summary: Durmukh says the disgrace has lasted too long, recalls that Hanumán
burned the city and entered the women’s chambers, and vows to attack and drive
away the Vánars.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:10
type: quote
locator: lines 48744-48746
quote_or_summary: Vajradanshṭra is introduced “brandishing the mace he bore, / Whose
horrid spikes were stained with gore.”
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short quotation.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: high
notes: Literal extraction is strong for named figures, speeches, and objects. Motif
assignment is cautious because many mythic episodes are mentioned only as retrospective
boasts, not narrated in full. No comparison claims were added because the passage
does not itself make an explicit cross-textual comparison.
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. Names and descriptions follow the passage wording where possible.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:hindu-ramayana-griffith-gutenberg__l48588-l48746
passage_sha256=1497613fd0f51a1f987093245c6ef379d005c691c7f7cbcb7dbb5052d577b978