batch.motif.hindu-ramayana-griffith-gutenberg-l6396-l6572
---
record_id: batch.motif.hindu-ramayana-griffith-gutenberg-l6396-l6572
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
passage_locator:
label: Canto XL. The Cleaving Of The Earth. / Canto XLI. Kapil. / Canto XLV. The
Quest Of The Amrit. / Canto XLVII. Sumati.; lines 6396-6572
start: '6396'
end: '6572'
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: 'Diti asks Indra that the cleft and blighted bud become seven heavenly
spirits named Maruts, assigned across the regions of the skies. Indra grants the
request, promising them divine forms, Amrit, freedom from fear, age, and sickness,
and movement through the three worlds. The passage then gives the founding lineage
of Viśálá and describes King Sumati receiving Viśvámitra and the two princes.
On the road to Mithilá, Ráma sees an old deserted holy wood, and Viśvámitra recounts
the tale of Gautam, Ahalyá, and Indra: Indra assumed Gautam’s form, approached
Ahalyá, fled in fear, and was cursed by the returning ascetic Gautam to become
sexless.'
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Diti says the blame for the blighted bud is hers and asks Indra that seven
spirits rise from it to rule regions of the skies.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Diti names the spirits Maruts, calls them gods of storms, and proposes assignments
for them in Brahmā’s sphere, Indra’s sphere, the lower air as Vāyu, and other
spaces under Indra’s command.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: Indra grants that Diti’s children will have heavenly forms, bear the names
she devised, be called Maruts, drink Amrit, attend on him, and move through the
three worlds free from fear, age, and sickness.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: The passage describes Diti and Indra as mother and son making a compact in
a hermits’ holy shade before going to the happy skies.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:5
text: A lineage is given in which Alambúshá bears Viśála to Ikshvāku; Viśála builds
the town Viśálā; later kings culminate in Sumati, who now governs there.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:6
text: Viśvāmitra says the group will spend the night in Viśálā and then proceed
to see the king of Mithilā.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:7
text: King Sumati comes with priest and lords to greet Viśvāmitra with obeisance,
worship, joined hands, and inclined head.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:8
text: Sumati asks about the two princely youths, describing their beauty, weapons,
gait, resemblance, and likeness to divine children.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:9
text: Viśvāmitra tells Sumati that the princes stayed with him in the grove and
slew demons; the princes are entertained and later travel toward Mithilā.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:10
text: Near Janak’s city, Rāma sees an old, overgrown, deserted holy wood and asks
Viśvāmitra what hermit formerly lived there.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:11
text: Viśvāmitra identifies the grove as Gautam’s former hermitage, once lovely
and honored by the gods, where Gautam practiced austerities with Ahalyā at his
side.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:12
text: Indra comes when Gautam is away, sees Ahalyā, assumes the sage’s form, and
addresses her with a plea for immediate love.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:13
text: Ahalyā recognizes Indra despite the sage’s disguise and yields to his desire.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:14
text: Ahalyā tells Indra to flee and save both himself and her from Gautam.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:15
text: Indra flees but meets Gautam returning from a lustral flood with fuel and
grass for sacred rites.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:16
text: Gautam sees Indra in hermit’s garb, understands what happened, and curses
him for assuming Gautam’s form.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: obs:17
text: The curse makes Indra a sexless being, and the passage says his might and
godlike vigor depart.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Diti
description: Indra’s mother and votaress; she petitions Indra concerning the blighted
bud and the future Maruts.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Indra / Mahendra / Lord of Gods / Thousand-eyed
description: God addressed by Diti; grants status to the Maruts; later, in a separate
tale, assumes Gautam’s form and is cursed by Gautam.
role_refs:
- role:3
- role:4
- role:11
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:8
- ev:10
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Maruts
description: Seven fair spirits or gods of storms arising from the cleft bud and
granted heavenly forms by Indra.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Brahmā
description: Named as the deity whose sphere is assigned to one of the Maruts in
Diti’s request.
role_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Vāyu
description: Named in Diti’s request as the name borne by the third Marut ranging
through the lower air.
role_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Alambúshā
description: A gentle woman who bears Viśála to old Ikshvāku.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Ikshvāku
description: Old king and sage, father of Viśála; his grace blesses the kings of
Viśálā.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Viśála
description: Son of Alambúshā and Ikshvāku; described as a monarch without guilt
who built the town Viśálā.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: Sumati
description: Current king of Viśálā, heir in the royal line; he greets Viśvāmitra
and asks about the two princes.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: fig:10
name_or_label: Viśvāmitra
description: Lofty-minded sage and guide of the princes; receives Sumati’s hospitality
and later explains the deserted grove to Rāma.
role_refs:
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: fig:11
name_or_label: Rāma
description: One of the princely youths accompanying Viśvāmitra; he asks about the
deserted holy wood near Mithilā.
role_refs:
- role:12
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:7
- id: fig:12
name_or_label: Unnamed second prince
description: The second member of the princely pair described by Sumati; the passage
does not name him in this excerpt.
role_refs:
- role:12
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: fig:13
name_or_label: Janak
description: Named through his city and as the king of Mithilā whom the travelers
intend to see.
role_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:7
- id: fig:14
name_or_label: Gautam
description: High saint and ascetic of the grove; husband or companion of Ahalyā;
returns from ritual purification and curses Indra.
role_refs:
- role:13
- role:14
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:10
- id: fig:15
name_or_label: Ahalyā
description: Woman beside Gautam in the hermitage; recognizes Indra in Gautam’s
disguise, yields, and warns Indra to flee.
role_refs:
- role:15
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
roles:
- id: role:1
label: petitioning mother
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Diti asks Indra for a grace regarding the cleft bud and is later called his
mother.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- id: role:2
label: votaress mother
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The passage calls the region one where Mahendra’s votaress mother claimed
his care.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:3
label: boon-granting lord of gods
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Indra grants Diti’s requested names and divine status for the Maruts.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:4
label: divine son in compact
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: The text says mother and son made their compact in the hermits’ holy shade.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:5
label: storm gods born from cleft bud
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Diti requests that seven spirits rise from the blighted bud and be famed
as Maruts, gods of storms.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:6
label: royal mother
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: Alambúshā bears Viśāla to Ikshvāku.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:7
label: ancestral king and sage
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: Ikshvāku is called an old king and sage and ancestor of Viśálā’s kings.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:8
label: city-founding monarch
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: Viśāla builds the fair town Viśálā.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:9
label: host king
assigned_to:
- fig:9
basis: Sumati greets Viśvāmitra and entertains the princely guests.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:6
- id: role:10
label: sage guide and narrator
assigned_to:
- fig:10
basis: Viśvāmitra guides the princes and narrates the past of the grove.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:8
- id: role:11
label: disguised divine transgressor
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Indra assumes Gautam’s form, approaches Ahalyā, and is cursed for doing so.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:10
- id: role:12
label: armed princely guest
assigned_to:
- fig:11
- fig:12
basis: Sumati describes the two youths as armed princes of divine-like appearance.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:13
label: ascetic householder
assigned_to:
- fig:14
basis: Gautam practices austerities in the grove with Ahalyā at his side.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: role:14
label: cursing ascetic judge
assigned_to:
- fig:14
basis: Gautam recognizes Indra and curses him for assuming his form.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: role:15
label: woman who recognizes the disguise
assigned_to:
- fig:15
basis: Ahalyā knows Indra in Gautam’s disguise and later tells him to flee.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: seven spirits
literal_form: The number seven in the requested spirits rising from the cleft bud.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:2
label: blighted cleft bud
literal_form: A withered bud cleft by Indra’s hand, from which Diti asks that seven
spirits rise.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:3
label: Amrit
literal_form: The divine drink promised by Indra to the Maruts.
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: sym:4
label: three worlds
literal_form: The spatial range through which the Maruts’ wings will speed.
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: sym:5
label: hermits’ holy shade
literal_form: The sacred setting where Diti and Indra make their compact.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:6
label: deserted holy wood
literal_form: An old, overgrown, deserted grove near Mithilā, formerly Gautam’s
hermitage.
associated_figures:
- fig:10
- fig:11
- fig:14
- fig:15
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: sym:7
label: assumed sage form
literal_form: Indra’s taking of Gautam’s form and hermit’s garb.
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:14
- fig:15
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:10
- id: sym:8
label: lustral flood
literal_form: The purifying water from which Gautam returns before confronting Indra.
associated_figures:
- fig:14
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: sym:9
label: burning flame
literal_form: A simile for Gautam’s splendour when returning from the lustral flood.
associated_figures:
- fig:14
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: sym:10
label: ritual fuel and grass
literal_form: Fuel and grass carried by Gautam for sacred rites.
associated_figures:
- fig:14
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: sym:11
label: sexless condition
literal_form: The bodily state imposed on Indra by Gautam’s curse.
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:14
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Diti’s petition for the Maruts
summary: Diti asks Indra to let seven heavenly storm spirits arise from the blighted
bud and assigns them divine regions and names.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Indra grants the Maruts divine status
summary: Indra accepts Diti’s request, names the spirits Maruts, grants them Amrit,
divine forms, freedom from affliction, and movement through the three worlds.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
- sym:4
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: scene:3
label: Royal lineage and welcome at Viśálā
summary: The passage recounts the lineage from Ikshvāku and Viśāla to Sumati, then
shows Sumati greeting Viśvāmitra and the princes with honor.
figure_refs:
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:8
- fig:9
- fig:10
- fig:11
- fig:12
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: scene:4
label: Discovery of Gautam’s deserted grove
summary: Near Mithilā, Rāma sees an old deserted holy wood and asks Viśvāmitra to
explain its former inhabitant and history.
figure_refs:
- fig:10
- fig:11
- fig:13
- fig:14
symbol_refs:
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: scene:5
label: Indra, Ahalyā, and Gautam’s curse
summary: Viśvāmitra narrates that Indra assumed Gautam’s form, approached Ahalyā,
fled when Gautam returned, and was cursed by Gautam to lose his virility and divine
vigor.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:14
- fig:15
symbol_refs:
- sym:7
- sym:8
- sym:9
- sym:10
- sym:11
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:10
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: Cleft bud transformed into seven storm gods
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_birth
- death_rebirth
basis: A blighted bud cleft by Indra becomes the source from which Diti asks that
seven spirits arise as Maruts, gods of storms.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage describes transformation from an unborn or blighted bud into
divine spirits, but does not frame it explicitly as rebirth.
- id: motif:2
label: Mother and divine son make a compact
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_parent_child
- sacred_exchange
basis: Diti and Indra are described as mother and son making a compact after Indra
grants honors and functions to her children.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
confidence: high
cautions: The terms of exchange are implicit in the petition and grant rather than
presented as a formal contract.
- id: motif:3
label: Divine offices assigned across cosmic regions
taxonomy_refs:
- cosmic_mountain
basis: The requested Maruts are assigned to Brahmā’s sphere, Indra’s sphere, the
lower air, and unbounded space, and are said to range through the three worlds.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
confidence: low
cautions: The passage maps cosmic regions but does not mention a mountain; the available
taxonomy has no direct 'cosmic order' category.
- id: motif:4
label: Royal genealogy legitimating a city and ruler
taxonomy_refs:
- royal_legitimacy
basis: The passage traces Viśálā’s kings from Ikshvāku and Viśāla through later
rulers to Sumati, emphasizing virtue, long life, strength, and noble descent.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
confidence: high
cautions: The genealogy is brief and localized to the city of Viśálā.
- id: motif:5
label: Heroes received by a host king during a sacred journey
taxonomy_refs:
- departure
basis: The armed princely pair travels with Viśvāmitra, is greeted and entertained
by Sumati, and then continues toward Mithilā.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage shows an itinerary episode, but the broader departure motif
depends on surrounding narrative not included here.
- id: motif:6
label: Deserted cursed hermitage revealed by a sage
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_judgment
basis: Rāma sees an old deserted holy wood, and Viśvāmitra explains that Gautam
cursed the hermitage in rage after the event involving Indra and Ahalyā.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:10
confidence: medium
cautions: The excerpt introduces the curse of the hermitage but mainly narrates
the curse on Indra.
- id: motif:7
label: Deity assumes another’s form to approach a woman
taxonomy_refs:
- shapeshifter
basis: Indra assumes Gautam’s form and woos Ahalyā while Gautam is absent.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
confidence: high
cautions: The transformation is a disguise or assumed form, not necessarily a full
bodily metamorphosis.
- id: motif:8
label: Ascetic curse transforms a divine offender
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_judgment
basis: Gautam recognizes Indra in hermit’s garb and curses him to become sexless,
after which his might and godlike vigor depart.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
confidence: high
cautions: The curse is delivered by a powerful ascetic rather than by a god explicitly
acting as judge.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 6396-6424; Canto XLVII, Diti’s petition
quote_or_summary: Diti asks Indra that the blighted bud cleft into seven become
seven fair spirits, Maruts or gods of storms, assigned to heavenly regions and
the lower air.
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 6425-6434; Canto XLVII, Indra’s reply
quote_or_summary: Indra grants that Diti’s children will wear heavenly forms, bear
her chosen names, be called Maruts, drink Amrit, attend on him, and move through
the three worlds free from fear, age, and sickness.
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 6435-6468; Canto XLVII, compact and Viśálā lineage
quote_or_summary: Mother and son make a compact in the hermits’ holy shade; the
passage identifies Mahendra’s old dwelling place and traces Viśálā’s royal line
from Alambúshā, Ikshvāku, and Viśāla to Sumati.
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 6469-6481; Canto XLVII, Sumati greets Viśvāmitra
quote_or_summary: Sumati comes with priest and lords to greet Viśvāmitra, offering
obeisance, worship, joined hands, and words of joy at the sage’s visit.
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 6482-6503; Canto XLVIII, Sumati asks about the princes
quote_or_summary: Sumati asks who the two princely youths are, describing their
heroic bearing, weapons, divine-like appearance, and resemblance to one another.
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 6504-6514; Canto XLVIII, hospitality and departure
quote_or_summary: Viśvāmitra explains that the princes dwelt with him in the grove
and slew demons; Sumati entertains them, and they later proceed toward Mithilā.
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 6515-6528; Canto XLVIII, Rāma sees the holy wood
quote_or_summary: Near Janak’s city, Rāma sees an aged, overgrown, deserted holy
wood and asks Viśvāmitra which hermit lived there long ago.
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 6529-6548; Canto XLVIII, Gautam’s grove and Indra’s disguise
quote_or_summary: Viśvāmitra says the grove was Gautam’s hermitage; when Gautam
was away, Indra saw Ahalyā, assumed the sage’s form, wooed her, and she recognized
him but yielded.
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 6549-6562; Canto XLVIII, Ahalyā’s warning and Gautam’s return
quote_or_summary: Ahalyā tells Indra to flee; Indra flees but meets Gautam returning
from the lustral flood with ritual fuel and grass, shining like a burning flame.
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 6563-6572; Canto XLVIII, Gautam’s curse on Indra
quote_or_summary: Gautam sees Indra in hermit’s garb, knows what happened, curses
him for assuming Gautam’s form, and the curse makes Indra sexless and bereft of
vigor.
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: uncertain
notes: Extraction is based only on the supplied passage. Motif candidates using
broad taxonomy labels are strongest for shapeshifter, divine judgment, royal legitimacy,
and divine parent-child compact; other labels are more approximate because the
available taxonomy lacks exact categories for storm-god birth and cosmic office
assignment.
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 supplied passage does not itself make an explicit cross-textual comparison; taxonomy references are limited to the provided lists.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:hindu-ramayana-griffith-gutenberg__l6396-l6572
passage_sha256=9e7c9fc8954a65897f0c64ab6f8d4056a8d427c5d4193bb7f29b7ca369388769