batch.motif.hindu-ramayana-griffith-gutenberg-l50981-l51135
---
record_id: batch.motif.hindu-ramayana-griffith-gutenberg-l50981-l51135
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
passage_locator:
label: Canto XXII. Ocean Threatened. / Canto XXIII. The Omens. / Canto XXVIII. The
Chieftains. / Canto XXXI. The Magic Head.; lines 50981-51135
start: '50981'
end: '51135'
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: Sítá sees what appears to be Ráma's severed head and bow, faints, and laments,
asking to die beside him. Rávaṇ is called away to council by news from Prahasta,
and after he leaves the head and bow vanish. Rávaṇ orders his lords to gather
the army. Saramá, a compassionate Rákshas guard, comforts Sítá and reveals that
the head and bow were a magical illusion. She reports that Ráma is alive, has
crossed the sea by a bridge with his Vánar army, and stands on Lanká's shore.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Sítá trembles, falls like a stricken plantain tree, lies as if dead, then
regains sense and looks at the displayed head.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Sítá addresses the head as Ráma's, laments his supposed death, and recalls
his vow to share life's path with her.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: Sítá asks Rávaṇ to kill her too and let her lie beside Ráma's body.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: A warder announces that Prahasta seeks audience with Rávaṇ, who leaves Sítá
and goes to counsel with his nobles.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:5
text: After Rávaṇ leaves, the head and bow are no longer visible.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:6
text: Rávaṇ orders his lords to gather the hosts with drums as the enemy draws near
the town.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:7
text: Saramá approaches Sítá with pity and tells her that Rávaṇ's act was guile.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:8
text: Saramá says she heard Sítá and Rávaṇ while hiding nearby, followed Rávaṇ,
and learned why he left the Aśoka grove.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:9
text: Saramá says Ráma was not slain and that a magician created the marvelous illusion.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:10
text: Saramá says Ráma has bridged the sea, crossed with his Vánar army, and stands
on Lanká's shore.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Sítá
description: The captive queen who mourns the apparent head of Ráma and is later
comforted by Saramá.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:6
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Ráma
description: Sítá's husband, apparently shown as dead by the false head, later reported
by Saramá to be alive on Lanká's shore with his army.
role_refs:
- role:3
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:8
- ev:9
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Rávaṇ
description: The giant king who leaves Sítá, calls council, orders his forces gathered,
and whose guile Saramá reveals.
role_refs:
- role:5
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Saramá
description: A Rákshas-born watcher of Sítá who feels pity for her and reveals the
illusion.
role_refs:
- role:7
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Prahasta
description: A chief standing at the gate who seeks audience with Rávaṇ through
a warder.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Unnamed magician
description: A magician, obedient to Rávaṇ's will, said by Saramá to have made the
marvelous illusion.
role_refs:
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Vánar army
description: Ráma's countless Vánar train and legions, reported to have crossed
the sea and reached Lanká's shore.
role_refs:
- role:11
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Rávaṇ's nobles and lords
description: Counsellors and lords summoned to council and ordered to gather the
hosts.
role_refs:
- role:12
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:5
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: Lakshmaṇ
description: Mentioned in Sítá's imagined report to Kauśalyá after Ráma's supposed
death.
role_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: fig:10
name_or_label: Kauśalyá
description: Mentioned by Sítá as one who will grieve over the supposed deaths and
fate of the exiles.
role_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
roles:
- id: role:1
label: mourning wife
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: She laments the apparent death of her husband and asks to follow him.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: role:2
label: deceived captive
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: She responds to the false head as if Ráma has been killed, before Saramá
reveals the deception.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:6
- ev:8
- id: role:3
label: apparently slain husband
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: The displayed head leads Sítá to mourn Ráma as dead.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:4
label: living war leader
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Saramá reports that Ráma is alive, keeps watch, has crossed with his army,
and stands on Lanká's shore.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
- id: role:5
label: giant king
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: The passage calls him the giant monarch and Lanká's lord.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:5
- id: role:6
label: deceiver and commander
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Saramá calls the episode his guile, and he orders his lords to gather troops.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: role:7
label: compassionate watcher
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: She watches near Sítá, feels pity, and loves the hapless lady.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: role:8
label: secret informant
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: She reports what she overheard and reveals that the display was an illusion.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: role:9
label: chief seeking audience
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: Prahasta is described standing before the gate and asking for audience with
Rávaṇ.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:10
label: maker of illusion
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: Saramá says a great magician made the marvelous illusion.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: role:11
label: crossing army
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: Saramá reports that Ráma's Vánar train and legions crossed the sea and reached
the shore.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: role:12
label: royal counsellors and commanders
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: They are summoned to council and told to gather the hosts.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:5
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: false severed head
literal_form: A head presented as Ráma's, looked upon by Sítá and later vanishing.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
- ev:8
- id: sym:2
label: Ráma's bow
literal_form: A famous gold-adorned bow shown with the head and later vanishing.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
- ev:8
- id: sym:3
label: Aśoka grove
literal_form: The grove from which Rávaṇ leaves and where Saramá had been near Sítá.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: sym:4
label: sea crossed by bridge
literal_form: The main or sea bridged by Ráma for the crossing to Lanká.
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: sym:5
label: funereal honors and worship fires
literal_form: Sítá asks whether no funeral honors will grace Ráma, for whom worship
fires had glowed.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Sítá's lament over the apparent head
summary: Sítá collapses, revives, sees the head, mourns Ráma as dead, recalls his
vow, and asks to die beside him.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:11
- id: scene:2
label: Rávaṇ leaves for council
summary: A warder brings news that Prahasta seeks audience; Rávaṇ leaves Sítá and
gathers nobles for counsel.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:5
- fig:8
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: scene:3
label: Illusory objects vanish and army is summoned
summary: After Rávaṇ leaves, the head and bow disappear, and Rávaṇ orders his lords
to assemble the forces as the enemy approaches.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:8
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: scene:4
label: Saramá reveals the deception
summary: Saramá comes to Sítá, explains that she overheard and followed Rávaṇ, and
says a magician made the false display.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: scene:5
label: Report of Ráma's arrival at Lanká
summary: Saramá reports that Ráma is alive, has bridged the sea with the Vánar army,
crossed over, and stands on Lanká's shore while spies bring news to Rávaṇ.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: deceptive death-token of the beloved
taxonomy_refs:
- stolen_beloved
basis: The captive Sítá is shown a false head and bow suggesting Ráma's death; the
objects vanish and Saramá later identifies them as a magician's illusion.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
- ev:8
confidence: high
cautions: The available taxonomy has no specific entry for magical illusion or false
death-token; the stolen_beloved reference is supported by Sítá's captive context
and relation to Rāma, but the exact motif is narrower than that taxonomy label.
- id: motif:2
label: compassionate enemy-side informant consoles captive heroine
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Saramá is Rákshas-born and assigned to watch Sítá, but pities her, reveals
Rávaṇ's guile, and brings reassuring news.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:9
confidence: high
cautions: No available taxonomy reference directly matches this motif.
- id: motif:3
label: heroic army crosses water by a constructed bridge
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Saramá reports that Ráma has thrown a bridge across the sea and brought his
Vánar legions to Lanká's shore.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
confidence: high
cautions: The passage reports the crossing rather than narrating the bridge-building
itself; no available motif-family label precisely covers this episode.
- id: motif:4
label: enemy ruler musters forces after secret alarm
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Rávaṇ tells his lords that the enemy is near the town, orders the hosts gathered
by drum, and tells them not to reveal the cause.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
confidence: medium
cautions: This is a battle-preparation pattern rather than a clearly marked mythic
motif.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 50981-51031
quote_or_summary: Sítá trembles, falls, revives, fixes her eyes on the head, laments
Ráma as dead, recalls his vow, and addresses his silent lips, breast, neck, and
bow.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized from supplied passage.
- id: ev:2
type: quote
locator: lines 51058-51065
quote_or_summary: "“Me, too, on him, O Rávaṇ, slay: / The wife beside her husband
lay.”"
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; short quotation from supplied passage.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 51066-51077
quote_or_summary: A warder announces Prahasta at the gate seeking audience; Rávaṇ
leaves and summons nobles to counsel in his hall.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized from supplied passage.
- id: ev:4
type: quote
locator: lines 51078-51079
quote_or_summary: "“When Lanká’s lord had left the queen, / The head and bow no
more were seen.”"
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; short quotation from supplied passage.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 51080-51091
quote_or_summary: Rávaṇ tells his faithful lords that the time has come, orders
hosts gathered with drums, warns them not to reveal the cause, and troops array
for battle.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized from supplied passage.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: lines 51092-51105
quote_or_summary: Saramá, Rákshas-born but gentle and pitying, watches Sítá, loves
her, and comes to reveal the giant's guile with consoling news.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized from supplied passage.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: lines 51106-51115
quote_or_summary: Saramá says she hid nearby, heard Rávaṇ and Sítá, followed Rávaṇ
when he left, and learned the reason he departed the Aśoka grove.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized from supplied passage.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: lines 51116-51131
quote_or_summary: 'Saramá says Sítá need not weep: Ráma was not slaughtered in sleep,
cannot easily be slain, and an obedient magician made the marvelous illusion.'
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized from supplied passage.
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: lines 51132-51135 and continuation in supplied passage
quote_or_summary: Saramá reports that Ráma with his Vánar train has thrown a bridge
across the sea, led legions over, stands on Lanká's shore, and that spies bring
news to Rávaṇ.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized from supplied passage.
- id: ev:10
type: summary
locator: lines 51043-51053
quote_or_summary: Sítá imagines Kauśalyá learning from Lakshmaṇ that the Vánars
fell by night and Ráma was slain as he slept, and dying of grief.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized from supplied passage.
- id: ev:11
type: summary
locator: lines 51036-51042
quote_or_summary: Sítá imagines Ráma's body torn by dogs and vultures and asks whether
no funeral honors will grace him, for whom worship fires had glowed.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized from supplied passage.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: uncertain
notes: The passage clearly supports the figures, scenes, illusion, consolation,
and reported sea crossing. Motif labels are cautious because the available taxonomy
lacks exact categories for magical false death-token and compassionate enemy informant.
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 supplied passage and metadata. Comparison claims are empty because the passage itself does not support an explicit cross-text comparison beyond internal motif identification.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:hindu-ramayana-griffith-gutenberg__l50981-l51135
passage_sha256=9fb5d91374f672e2457793a2e3bb29fa795b80260db8f031f502e920fe96e2b0