batch.motif.hindu-ramayana-griffith-gutenberg-l58534-l58632
---
record_id: batch.motif.hindu-ramayana-griffith-gutenberg-l58534-l58632
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
passage_locator:
label: HIPPOLYTE FAUCHE. / ADDITIONAL NOTES. / H. H. WILSON. / THE SUPPLIANT DOVE.;
lines 58534-58632
start: '58534'
end: '58632'
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 dove fleeing a hawk seeks refuge with the king of Káśí. The hawk argues
that the dove is its rightful food. The king refuses to surrender his protected
guest and offers other animals; the hawk insists on the king's own flesh weighed
against the dove. The king cuts flesh from his body and finally places himself
on the scale. The gods appear, praise him, anoint him with amrit, and carry him
to heaven in a golden car. The passage notes that this ancient story occurs more
than once in the Mahábhárat.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: A dove, chased by a hawk, comes to the hand of Káśí’s king and is placed by
him on his breast.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: The king promises not to betray the dove, even at the cost of his possessions.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: The hawk claims the dove as its destined prize and argues that justice requires
the king not to rob birds of prey of their food.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:4
text: The king offers the hawk a cow, deer, ram, or lamb instead of the dove.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:5
text: The hawk refuses substitute flesh and asks for the king’s own flesh weighed
against the dove.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:6
text: The king cuts flesh from multiple parts of his body and puts it on a scale,
but the dove remains heavier.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:7
text: When only bone is left, the king throws himself onto the scale.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:8
text: Voices thunder, the sky darkens, the earth shakes, and gods led by Indra appear.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:9
text: The gods shower chaplets, pour amrit on the king’s head, praise him, place
him on a golden car, and carry him to heaven.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:10
text: The passage closes by saying that Káśí’s lord won heaven and deathless fame
through his deed.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: obs:11
text: The introductory note states that the story occurs more than once in the Mahábhárat.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Káśí’s king / Káśí’s lord
description: A mighty king who shelters the dove, debates justice with the hawk,
gives his own flesh, and is taken to heaven.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:4
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:9
- ev:10
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Supplicant dove
description: A weary dove fleeing a hawk who clings to the king as a protected guest.
role_refs:
- role:4
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:4
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Hawk / falcon
description: A bird of prey pursuing the dove, claiming it as rightful food, and
demanding the king’s own flesh if the dove is protected.
role_refs:
- role:6
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:5
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Gods led by Indra
description: Blessed gods from every sphere, led by Indra, who arrive after the
king’s self-offering and honor him.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Heavenly attendants
description: God, seraph, bard, and nymph figures whose voices praise the king in
heavenward celebration.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
roles:
- id: role:1
label: protector of a suppliant
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The king shelters the dove on his breast and refuses to betray it.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:4
- id: role:2
label: self-sacrificing king
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The king cuts off his own flesh and finally puts himself on the scale for
the dove.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: role:3
label: recipient of heavenly reward
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The gods anoint him, praise him, place him on a golden car, and take him
to heaven.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
- id: role:4
label: suppliant guest
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: The dove seeks refuge with the king and clings to its protector.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
- id: role:5
label: prey
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: The hawk calls the dove its destined prize and rightful spoil.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:6
label: pursuer and claimant
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: The hawk pursues the dove and claims it by right of its flight and hunger.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:7
label: tester of justice through demand
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: The hawk invokes justice and demands the king’s own flesh in place of the
dove.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:5
- id: role:8
label: divine witnesses and rewarders
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: The gods appear after the king’s act and honor him with celestial gifts and
conveyance.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
- id: role:9
label: heavenly celebrants
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: Heavenly beings raise voices in praise with dance and song.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: dove as protected suppliant
literal_form: Dove resting on the king’s hand and breast
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
- id: sym:2
label: hawk as predatory claim
literal_form: Hawk or falcon pursuing and demanding the dove
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:5
- id: sym:3
label: weighing scale
literal_form: Scale in which the king’s flesh is weighed against the dove
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: sym:4
label: king’s flesh
literal_form: Flesh cut from the king’s side, arm, chest, back, and thigh
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: sym:5
label: amrit
literal_form: Pure Amrit, divine drink, shed upon the king’s head
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: sym:6
label: golden car
literal_form: Golden gem-bright car that carries the king through the air
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: sym:7
label: heavenly chaplets
literal_form: Immortal chaplets rained down by the gods
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Dove seeks refuge with the king
summary: A weary dove fleeing a hawk lands on the hand of Káśí’s king, who comforts
it and promises protection.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: scene:2
label: Hawk argues its claim
summary: The pursuing hawk claims the dove as its rightful prey and appeals to the
king’s duty of justice.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: scene:3
label: Substitute offerings refused
summary: The king offers other animals, but the hawk refuses and demands the king’s
own flesh weighed against the dove.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
- sym:3
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: scene:4
label: Self-offering on the scale
summary: The king repeatedly cuts flesh from his body, but the dove remains heavier;
he finally places himself on the scale.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: scene:5
label: Divine manifestation and heavenly reward
summary: After cosmic disturbance, gods led by Indra arrive, honor the king with
chaplets and amrit, praise him, and bear him to heaven in a golden car.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:4
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:5
- sym:6
- sym:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:10
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: self-sacrifice to protect a suppliant
taxonomy_refs:
- sacrifice
basis: The king refuses to surrender the dove and gives his own flesh, finally his
whole body, to preserve the protected creature.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
confidence: high
cautions: The available taxonomy has a broad 'sacrifice' family; the more specific
suppliant-protection pattern is described in the label rather than a taxonomy
ID.
- id: motif:2
label: weighing a body against a protected life
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_exchange
basis: The hawk requires the king’s own flesh to be weighed against the dove, making
protection of the dove a measured exchange.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage presents a literal weighing and exchange, but does not itself
use the term 'sacred exchange'.
- id: motif:3
label: divine reward after extreme righteous action
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_judgment
basis: After the king’s self-offering, the gods appear, praise him, anoint him,
and carry him to heaven.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:10
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage shows divine approval and reward, but it does not explicitly
state that the gods set the test or conduct a formal judgment.
- id: motif:4
label: ascent to heaven in a celestial vehicle
taxonomy_refs:
- ascent
basis: The gods set the king on a golden car and carry him through the air to heaven.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
confidence: high
cautions: The ascent occurs as a reward at the close of the tale, not as the main
conflict.
comparison_claims:
- id: claim:1
claim: The note identifies this as a very ancient story that occurs more than once
in the Mahábhárat, supporting comparison with Mahábhárat versions of the same
narrative pattern.
claim_level: same_motif
target: Mahábhárat occurrences of the supplicant dove story
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: high
limitations: The passage does not provide the Mahábhárat passages or details for
direct comparison, only the note that such occurrences exist.
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 58544-58553
quote_or_summary: A dove chased by a hawk comes with weary wing to the hand of Káśí’s
mighty king; the king smooths its feathers and lays it on his breast.
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 58554-58559
quote_or_summary: The king tells the dove not to fear and says he will resign all
that is his before betraying his guest.
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 58560-58575
quote_or_summary: The hawk arrives, claims the dove as its prize, says hunger and
thirst oppress it, and appeals to the king’s justice not to rob birds of air of
their rightful spoil.
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 58576-58583
quote_or_summary: The king offers a cow, deer, ram, or lamb to be slain for the
hawk and says his oath forbids him to betray the trembling dove clinging to his
breast.
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 58584-58591
quote_or_summary: The hawk refuses lamb and deer, says falcons feed on doves by
Heaven’s decree, and asks for the king’s own flesh weighed against the bird.
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 58592-58603
quote_or_summary: The king cuts flesh from side, arm, chest, back, and thigh and
puts it on the scale, but the dove’s side still outweighs the monarch’s side.
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 58604-58607
quote_or_summary: After he heaps the scale with flesh, sinews, blood, and skin,
leaving only bone, the king throws himself into the scale.
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 58608-58615
quote_or_summary: Voices thunder, the sky darkens, the earth shakes, and blessed
gods from every sphere, led by Indra, come near amid celestial music.
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 58616-58627
quote_or_summary: The gods rain immortal chaplets, pour pure amrit on the king’s
head, heavenly beings praise him, and he is placed on a gem-bright golden car
and carried through the air.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:10
type: summary
locator: lines 58628-58631
quote_or_summary: The closing moral says Káśí’s lord won heaven and deathless fame
by his noble deed and exhorts similar protection of the weak.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:11
type: summary
locator: lines 58538-58543
quote_or_summary: The introductory prose calls this a free version of a very ancient
story that occurs more than once in the Mahábhárat.
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: medium
notes: The narrative sequence is explicit. Motif taxonomy assignment is partly interpretive
because available taxonomy categories are broad. The comparison claim is limited
to the passage’s own note about Mahábhárat occurrences.
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. No external Mahábhárat details were added.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:hindu-ramayana-griffith-gutenberg__l58534-l58632
passage_sha256=128235181d8f12290369a07e74ce5763f9c911193474595d271efc6bd3cc631f