batch.motif.hindu-ramayana-griffith-gutenberg-l53344-l53513
---
record_id: batch.motif.hindu-ramayana-griffith-gutenberg-l53344-l53513
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
passage_locator:
label: Canto XLIII. The Single Combats. / Canto XLIV. The Night. / Canto L. The
Broken Spell. / Canto LX. Kumbhakarna Roused.; lines 53344-53513
start: '53344'
end: '53513'
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: Rama sees the huge Kumbhakarna approaching and asks Vibhishana to identify
him. Vibhishana recounts Kumbhakarna’s destructive power, his assaults on gods
and men, and Brahma’s curse that he sleep for six months and wake for one day.
Rama orders defensive preparations. Kumbhakarna enters Lanka, meets Ravana, hears
of Rama’s army crossing the sea and besieging the city, advises Ravana to return
Sita, and is reproved and asked to repair the king’s errors.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Rama sees a giant warrior near the wall, larger than other giants, and asks
Vibhishana to name him.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: The Vanars flee when they see Kumbhakarna.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
- id: obs:3
text: Vibhishana identifies the warrior as Kumbhakarna, son of Visravas and enemy
of the Immortals.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: Vibhishana says Kumbhakarna conquered Yama, made Indra acknowledge his might,
subdued gods, fiends, Gandharvas, and serpents, and killed and ate a thousand
men soon after birth.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:5
text: The people appealed to Indra, who hurled his bolt at Kumbhakarna; Kumbhakarna
tore a tusk from Airavat and struck Indra.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:6
text: Gods and mortals went to Brahma, who cursed Kumbhakarna to be like the dead;
Kumbhakarna lay senseless and unmoving.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:7
text: Ravana asked Brahma not to let Kumbhakarna die but to let him sleep and wake
at fixed times; Brahma decreed six months of sleep and one day of waking.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:8
text: Ravana has awakened Kumbhakarna in a time of need so he may feed on slaughtered
Vanars.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:9
text: Rama orders Nila to place troops near every gate and block lanes and alleys
with rocks and trees.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:10
text: Kumbhakarna walks through Lanka while flowers are showered on his head from
houses.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:11
text: Kumbhakarna enters Ravana’s chamber, performs observance to the king, and
asks why his sleep has been interrupted.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:12
text: Ravana says Rama, with the Vanar king’s aid, has crossed the sea and arrayed
hosts around Lanka’s walls.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:13
text: Ravana asks Kumbhakarna to go forth, save Lanka, and take vengeance.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:14
text: Kumbhakarna tells Ravana that he had been warned and advises him to restore
Sita to her lord.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:15
text: Ravana rebukes Kumbhakarna for reproaching his elder brother and asks him
to repair the errors of his king.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Rama, son of Raghu / Dasaratha’s son
description: Hero near Lanka’s wall who observes Kumbhakarna, questions Vibhishana,
and orders defensive arrangements.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:5
- ev:7
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Vibhishana
description: Speaker who identifies Kumbhakarna and recounts his origin, powers,
and curse; also named as the giver of prudent counsel to restore Sita.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:8
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Kumbhakarna
description: Huge giant, son of Visravas and brother of Ravana, awakened from a
long sleep to aid Lanka in war.
role_refs:
- role:3
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:4
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Indra
description: God who attacks Kumbhakarna with his bolt and is struck after Kumbhakarna
tears a tusk from Airavat.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Brahma / the Self-existent
description: Deity who curses Kumbhakarna to be like the dead and then modifies
the condition to periodic sleep and waking.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Ravana
description: King of Lanka and elder brother of Kumbhakarna, who asks Brahma to
mitigate the curse and later awakens Kumbhakarna to defend Lanka.
role_refs:
- role:7
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:9
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Vanars
description: Rama’s monkey hosts who flee at the sight of Kumbhakarna and are ordered
into defensive positions.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:7
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Nila
description: Chief commanded by Rama to arrange troops at the gates and block passages.
role_refs:
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: Sita
description: Person whom Kumbhakarna says Ravana should restore to her lord.
role_refs:
- role:11
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: fig:10
name_or_label: Airavat
description: Indra’s elephant, from whom Kumbhakarna tears a tusk.
role_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
roles:
- id: role:1
label: besieging hero and commander
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Rama is said to have crossed the sea, arranged hosts around Lanka, and commands
Nila to set defenses.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:7
- id: role:2
label: identifier and counselor
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Vibhishana identifies Kumbhakarna and is named as a source of counsel to
return Sita.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:8
- id: role:3
label: giant warrior
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Kumbhakarna is described as towering above others, preeminent in size and
might, and greater than gods, fiends, and giants.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: role:4
label: enchanted sleeper awakened for battle
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Brahma decrees a six-month sleep and one-day waking cycle, and Ravana awakens
him in Lanka’s hour of need.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:7
- id: role:5
label: divine opponent
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Indra hurls his bolt at Kumbhakarna and is struck in return.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:6
label: divine curser and regulator
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: Brahma’s word renders Kumbhakarna senseless and later fixes the terms of
his sleep and waking.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: role:7
label: king in distress
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: Ravana sits in despair and says Lanka is threatened by Rama’s army.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: role:8
label: brother-petitioner
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: Ravana pleads with Brahma on Kumbhakarna’s behalf and later draws his brother
near.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:6
- id: role:9
label: besieging host
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: The Vanars are Rama’s allied troops around Lanka and are ordered to occupy
gates and block ways.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:7
- id: role:10
label: field commander
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: Nila receives and obeys Rama’s order to arrange troops and barriers.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:11
label: beloved to be restored
assigned_to:
- fig:9
basis: Kumbhakarna advises Ravana to restore Sita to her lord.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: mountain-like giant body
literal_form: Kumbhakarna’s “mountain frame” and towering size
associated_figures:
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs:
- mountain
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:2
label: divine bolt
literal_form: Indra’s bolt hurled at Kumbhakarna
associated_figures:
- fig:4
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:3
label: torn elephant tusk
literal_form: A tusk torn from Airavat and used to strike Indra
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:10
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:4
label: death-like sleep
literal_form: Kumbhakarna lying senseless, unmoving, and like the dead under Brahma’s
curse
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: sym:5
label: trees as battlefield barriers
literal_form: Trees used with rock fragments to block lanes and alleys
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:7
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs:
- tree
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: sym:6
label: sea crossing
literal_form: Rama’s won passage over the sea to Lanka
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: sym:7
label: showered flowers
literal_form: Fragrant flowers shed from houses onto Kumbhakarna’s head as he walks
through Lanka
associated_figures:
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Rama sights Kumbhakarna
summary: Rama observes a giant warrior approaching near the wall; the Vanars flee,
and Vibhishana identifies him as Kumbhakarna.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: scene:2
label: Vibhishana recounts Kumbhakarna’s curse
summary: Vibhishana describes Kumbhakarna’s violent birth, his conflict with Indra,
the appeal to Brahma, and the divine curse that leaves him in periodic death-like
sleep.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:10
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
- sym:3
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: scene:3
label: Rama prepares defenses
summary: Rama commands Nila to station troops at every gate and block passages with
rocks and trees; the Vanars take position.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:7
- fig:8
symbol_refs:
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: scene:4
label: Kumbhakarna meets Ravana
summary: Kumbhakarna enters Lanka and Ravana’s chamber, performs respect to the
king, and asks why he has been awakened.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: scene:5
label: Ravana requests aid
summary: Ravana explains that Rama has crossed the sea with Vanar aid, that Lanka
is besieged, and that Kumbhakarna must save the city and take vengeance.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:6
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: scene:6
label: Counsel to return Sita and royal rebuke
summary: Kumbhakarna reminds Ravana of ignored counsel and advises returning Sita;
Ravana rebukes him and asks him to repair the king’s errors.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:6
- fig:9
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: death-like enchanted sleep with periodic awakening
taxonomy_refs:
- death_rebirth
basis: Brahma curses Kumbhakarna to be like the dead; Ravana obtains a mitigation
in which he sleeps six months and wakes for one day, and Ravana later awakens
him for war.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:7
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage describes sleep, not actual death or rebirth; the taxonomy
reference is approximate.
- id: motif:2
label: world-threatening devourer restrained by divine decree
taxonomy_refs:
- chaos
basis: Kumbhakarna’s appetite is said to threaten desolation of the world, prompting
appeal to Brahma and the imposition of a curse.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage presents a dangerous giant rather than an explicit cosmic
chaos being.
- id: motif:3
label: stolen beloved should be restored to avert disaster
taxonomy_refs:
- stolen_beloved
basis: Kumbhakarna says Ravana should follow Vibhishana’s counsel and restore Sita
to her lord as the consequences of Ravana’s action appear.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
confidence: high
cautions: This passage alludes to the prior taking of Sita rather than narrating
the original abduction.
- id: motif:4
label: besieged king awakens giant champion in crisis
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Ravana awakens Kumbhakarna from his imposed sleep because Rama’s army has
crossed the sea and surrounded Lanka.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:6
- ev:7
confidence: high
cautions: No supplied taxonomy family directly names this battle-aid pattern.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 53344-53361
quote_or_summary: Rama sees a huge giant warrior approaching near the wall, asks
Vibhishana to identify him, and notes that the Vanars flee at his sight.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 53362-53379
quote_or_summary: Vibhishana identifies the figure as Kumbhakarna, son of Visravas;
he says Kumbhakarna is mightier than gods and giants, defeated divine and serpent
beings, and killed and ate a thousand men soon after birth.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 53380-53404
quote_or_summary: Humans appeal to Indra; Indra strikes Kumbhakarna with his bolt,
but Kumbhakarna tears Airavat’s tusk and strikes Indra. Gods and mortals appeal
to Brahma, who curses Kumbhakarna to be like the dead, leaving him senseless and
unmoving.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 53405-53427
quote_or_summary: Ravana asks Brahma to spare Kumbhakarna from death and instead
make him sleep with fixed waking times; Brahma decrees six months asleep and one
day awake. Vibhishana says Ravana has now roused him to feed on slaughtered Vanars.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 53428-53437
quote_or_summary: Rama orders Nila to place troops by every gate and block lanes
and alleys with rock fragments and trees; Nila obeys and the Vanars stand arrayed.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: lines 53438-53458
quote_or_summary: Kumbhakarna walks along Lanka’s royal road while flowers are shed
on him, reaches Ravana’s chamber, bows at the king’s feet, and asks why his sleep
has been broken.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: lines 53459-53481
quote_or_summary: Ravana says Rama has crossed the sea with the Vanar king’s help,
surrounded Lanka, and slain many Rakshasas; he asks Kumbhakarna to save Lanka
and take vengeance.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: lines 53482-53498
quote_or_summary: Kumbhakarna laughs, says Ravana ignored earlier warnings, speaks
of rulers who neglect foes and fall by fate, and urges him to accept Vibhishana’s
counsel and restore Sita to her lord.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: lines 53499-53513
quote_or_summary: Ravana angrily rebukes Kumbhakarna for instructing his elder brother,
says this is no time for reproach, and asks him to repair the errors of his king.
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: Passage content is clear in the supplied translation. Motif labels are cautious
and mostly passage-internal; one taxonomy mapping to death_rebirth is approximate
because the text describes sleep rather than literal death.
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 support a specific cross-textual or historical comparison beyond internal Ramayana motifs.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:hindu-ramayana-griffith-gutenberg__l53344-l53513
passage_sha256=214ef7618ae180a3b2dbe69cf0322c0d1e1c84c33b1207ce2eb33683d73b04d4