batch.motif.hindu-ramayana-griffith-gutenberg-l4917-l5003
---
record_id: batch.motif.hindu-ramayana-griffith-gutenberg-l4917-l5003
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
passage_locator:
label: Canto XXV. The Hermitage Of Love. / Canto XXIX. The Celestial Arms. / Canto
XXXI. The Perfect Hermitage. / Canto XXXIII. The Sone.; lines 4917-5003
start: '4917'
end: '5003'
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 completing their prior task, Ráma and Lakshmaṇ perform morning rites
and ask Viśvámitra what they should do. The saints say they will go to King Janak's
sacrifice at Mithilá, where Ráma will see a divine bow of great power that no
giant, fiend, god, bard, or earthly king has been able to string. Viśvámitra leaves
the hermitage with ritual farewell, travels north with pupils, servants, and even
animals following, and halts at the Śona river, where the hermits bathe, make
oblations to Fire, and Ráma asks about the land's history.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: The princes perform morning rites before approaching the hermits and Viśvámitra.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Ráma and Lakshmaṇ present themselves as servants and ask Viśvámitra to command
them.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: The saints say that King Janak of Mithilá has planned a noble sacrifice and
that they will go to see the rite.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: The saints say Ráma will see a vast and wondrous bow at the rite.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:5
text: The bow is described as a divine gift to King Janak and as impossible for
giants, fiends, gods, heavenly bards, and strong kings to string.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: obs:6
text: The bow is kept in the royal palace, preserved with scented oil, aloe-wood,
and incense.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:7
text: Viśvámitra addresses the sylvan deities before leaving the hermitage.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:8
text: Viśvámitra states that he is going to the northern shore of the Gangá beneath
the snowy peaks of Himálaya.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:9
text: Viśvámitra circumambulates the holy ground before setting out northward.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:10
text: Pupils, servants with a hundred wains, birds, and deer follow Viśvámitra from
the hermitage.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:11
text: The party halts on the shore of the Śona at sunset.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:12
text: At the Śona, the hermits bathe, complete rites, and pay oblations to Fire.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:13
text: Ráma asks Viśvámitra to tell him the history of the prosperous country where
they have halted.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Ráma
description: A prince who follows Viśvámitra, accepts the journey, bows to the hermits,
and asks about the country at the Śona.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:7
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Lakshmaṇ
description: A prince accompanying Ráma who bows with him to the hermit crowd.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:7
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Viśvámitra
description: The mighty saint and leader of the hermits, addressed by the princes
and followed from the hermitage.
role_refs:
- role:3
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Saints and hermits
description: The ritual community led by Viśvámitra; they announce the journey to
Janak's sacrifice and perform rites at the Śona.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:7
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Janak
description: King of fertile Mithilá who has planned a noble sacrifice and possesses
the divine bow in his palace.
role_refs:
- role:6
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:4
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: The Gods
description: Divine beings said to have assembled and given the bow to King Janak.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:4
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Sylvan deities
description: Deities of the grove whom Viśvámitra addresses in farewell before leaving
the hermitage.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Fire
description: Fire receives oblations from the hermits at the Śona.
role_refs:
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
roles:
- id: role:1
label: questioning prince
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Ráma asks Viśvámitra to explain the country where they have halted.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: role:2
label: obedient princely companion
assigned_to:
- fig:1
- fig:2
basis: The princes offer themselves for Viśvámitra's command and later bow reverently
to the hermits.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:7
- id: role:3
label: sage leader
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Viśvámitra leads the saints and sets out with pupils and followers.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:6
- id: role:4
label: ritual authority
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: He is greeted as a holy sire and conducts the departure from the hermitage
after completing rites.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:5
- id: role:5
label: ritual community
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: The saints travel to witness Janak's rite and perform bathing, rites, and
oblations at the Śona.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:7
- id: role:6
label: sacrificing king
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: Janak has planned a noble sacrifice in Mithilá.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:7
label: royal keeper of divine bow
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: The bow won by sacrifice lies in Janak's royal palace.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:8
label: divine donors
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: The Gods are said to have given the bow to the king.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:4
- id: role:9
label: local sacred recipients of farewell
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: Viśvámitra addresses the sylvan deities with farewell before leaving the
grove.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:10
label: recipient of oblations
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: The hermits pay oblations to Fire after bathing and rites.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: wondrous divine bow
literal_form: A vast, terrific, matchless bow kept in Janak's palace and impossible
for many beings to string.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:5
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: sym:2
label: sacrifice
literal_form: Janak's planned noble sacrifice at Mithilá and the earlier imperial
sacrifice by which the bow was gained.
associated_figures:
- fig:4
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:4
- id: sym:3
label: Fire
literal_form: Fire receiving oblations at the evening halt.
associated_figures:
- fig:4
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: sym:4
label: river shore
literal_form: The northern shore of the Gangá as destination and the Śona shore
as the evening halt.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: sym:5
label: Himálaya peaks
literal_form: Snowy peaks of Himálaya named as lying above the Gangá's northern
shore.
associated_figures:
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs:
- mountain
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: sym:6
label: holy grove or hermitage
literal_form: The sacred grove and perfected hermitage from which Viśvámitra departs
after ritual farewell.
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Morning service and command request
summary: After the night, the princes perform morning rites, approach Viśvámitra
and the hermits, and ask what they should do.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Announcement of Janak's sacrifice and bow
summary: The saints announce that they will go to Mithilá for King Janak's sacrifice
and that Ráma will see the divine bow which no powerful being has been able to
string.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: scene:3
label: Ritual departure from the hermitage
summary: Viśvámitra bids farewell to the sylvan deities, circumambulates the holy
ground, and sets out northward toward the Gangá and Himálaya.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
- sym:5
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: scene:4
label: Followers leave the grove
summary: Pupils, servants with wains, birds, and deer follow Viśvámitra from the
sacred grove as the party travels and halts at the Śona.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: scene:5
label: Evening rites at the Śona
summary: At sunset the hermits bathe, complete rites, offer oblations to Fire, and
Ráma asks Viśvámitra about the land's history.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:8
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: departure from sacred hermitage toward a royal-sacrificial destination
taxonomy_refs:
- departure
basis: Viśvámitra completes rites, ritually leaves the hermitage, and leads the
princes and hermits northward to Janak's sacrifice.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:5
- ev:6
confidence: high
cautions: The passage presents the departure and destination but not the completion
of the journey.
- id: motif:2
label: divine weapon or bow as impossible heroic test
taxonomy_refs:
- initiation
basis: The bow is divine, vast, and unstringable by gods, giants, fiends, bards,
and strong kings; Ráma is told he will view it at the rite.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage does not yet show Ráma attempting the bow, so the test or
initiation function is only anticipated.
- id: motif:3
label: sacrifice rewarded by divine object
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_exchange
basis: The bow is described as a prize gained by King Janak through an imperial
sacrifice and given by the assembled Gods.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:4
confidence: medium
cautions: The transaction is reported briefly; the passage does not narrate the
original sacrifice itself.
- id: motif:4
label: royal possession of divine legitimacy object
taxonomy_refs:
- royal_legitimacy
basis: King Janak keeps in his palace a divine bow gained through sacrifice and
associated with royal rites.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:4
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage states royal possession and sacrificial origin, but does not
explicitly say the bow legitimates Janak's rule.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: 4917-4930
quote_or_summary: The princes perform morning rites, approach the hermits and Viśvámitra,
and ask him to command what they should do.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: 4931-4943
quote_or_summary: The saints, led by Viśvámitra, say Janak of Mithilá has planned
a noble sacrifice and that Ráma will go with them to behold a wondrous bow given
by the assembled Gods.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: 4944-4951
quote_or_summary: The bow cannot be strung by giant, fiend, god, heavenly bard,
or strong sons of kings, who have tried in vain.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: 4952-4961
quote_or_summary: The high-souled king of Mithilá gained the bow from the Gods as
the prize of his imperial sacrifice, and it lies in the royal palace preserved
with scented oil, aloe-wood, and incense.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: 4962-4976
quote_or_summary: Ráma agrees to go; Viśvámitra prepares, bids farewell to the sylvan
deities, says he goes to the Gangá's northern shore beneath Himálaya, circumambulates
the holy ground, and sets out northward.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: 4977-4988
quote_or_summary: Viśvámitra's pupils and servants with a hundred wains follow him;
birds and deer also leave the grove and follow; the travelers halt at sunset on
the Śona shore.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: 4989-5003
quote_or_summary: At the Śona, the hermits bathe, complete rites, make oblations
to Fire, sit around their chief, and Ráma asks Viśvámitra to tell the history
of the prosperous country.
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 extraction is straightforward. Motif assignments are cautious because
several functions, especially the bow as a heroic test, are anticipated rather
than enacted in this passage.
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: |-
No comparison claims were added because the passage itself does not explicitly compare the episode to another text, tradition, or motif family beyond the available taxonomy-style motif labeling.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:hindu-ramayana-griffith-gutenberg__l4917-l5003
passage_sha256=6c653b8789e49a4ce62aca4b3f134eb3060aeae1213fc6d2abe4eb6334c5f15b