batch.motif.hindu-ramayana-griffith-gutenberg-l7001-l7065
---
record_id: batch.motif.hindu-ramayana-griffith-gutenberg-l7001-l7065
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
passage_locator:
label: Canto XLI. Kapil. / Canto XLV. The Quest Of The Amrit. / Canto XLVII. Sumati.
/ Canto L. Janak.; lines 7001-7065
start: '7001'
end: '7065'
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: Vaśishṭha refuses Viśvámitra’s repeated offers of wealth in exchange for
his cow Dapple-skin, explaining that his offerings, rites, sacred fire, hospitality,
and daily needs depend on her.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Vaśishṭha states that he will not sell his cow to the monarch even for vast
sums of silver.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Vaśishṭha describes the cow as dwelling with him like glory with the virtuous
and calls her his guardian, friend, and minister.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: Vaśishṭha says his offerings to gods and spirits, sacred flame, sacrifices,
formulas, and saving lore depend on the cow’s aid.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: Vaśishṭha says the banquet shared by Viśvámitra’s host was prepared by the
cow.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:5
text: Viśvámitra offers elephants, chariots, horses, heifers, gems, and gold in
exchange for Dapple-skin.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:6
text: Vaśishṭha again refuses to give away the cow and says she yields what he asks
each day.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Vaśishṭha
description: A great arch-hermit addressed by Viśvámitra; owner and defender of
Dapple-skin.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:5
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Viśvámitra
description: A king and royal sage who asks to obtain Vaśishṭha’s cow and offers
wealth in exchange.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Dapple-skin
description: Vaśishṭha’s cow, described as his treasure, life, support, and source
of ritual and material provision.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:5
roles:
- id: role:1
label: arch-hermit
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The passage names Vaśishṭha as an arch-hermit.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:2
label: refuser of exchange
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Vaśishṭha repeatedly refuses to sell or give away the cow despite extravagant
offers.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:5
- id: role:3
label: royal petitioner offering wealth
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Viśvámitra is identified as a king and royal sage who offers large quantities
of royal wealth for the cow.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
- id: role:4
label: sacred provider cow
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Vaśishṭha says the cow supplies his offerings, rites, banquet, treasure,
and daily requests.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:5
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: sacred cow as inexhaustible provision
literal_form: Dapple-skin, Vaśishṭha’s cow
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:5
- id: sym:2
label: sacred fire
literal_form: the sacred flame and sacrifice by fire
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: sym:3
label: royal exchange wealth
literal_form: elephants, chariots, horses, heifers, gems, gold, and silver
associated_figures:
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Vaśishṭha’s first refusal
summary: Vaśishṭha tells Viśvámitra that he will not sell Dapple-skin and explains
that his ritual offerings, life, hospitality, and treasure depend on her.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: scene:2
label: Viśvámitra’s expanded offer
summary: Viśvámitra responds to the refusal by offering large numbers of elephants,
chariots, horses, heifers, gems, and gold in exchange for Dapple-skin.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: scene:3
label: Vaśishṭha’s final refusal in the passage
summary: Vaśishṭha again refuses to give away the cow, identifying her as his wealth
and life, the root of his rites, and the source of what he asks each day.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: refused exchange for sacred provider
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_exchange
basis: The king offers immense wealth in exchange for the cow, but Vaśishṭha refuses
because the cow is the source of sacred and practical provision.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
- ev:5
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage centers on a proposed exchange and refusal rather than a completed
sacred exchange.
- id: motif:2
label: ritual sustenance supplied by sacred animal
taxonomy_refs:
- sacrifice
basis: Vaśishṭha states that offerings, sacred fire, sacrifices, formulas, and holy
service depend on the cow.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:5
confidence: high
cautions: The taxonomy reference is to sacrifice broadly; the cow functions as supplier
of rites rather than as the sacrificial victim in this passage.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 7001-7014
quote_or_summary: Vaśishṭha answers Viśvámitra that he will not sell his cow even
for enormous sums and says she always makes her home with him.
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 7015-7025
quote_or_summary: Vaśishṭha says offerings to gods and spirits, his life, the sacred
flame, gifts to creatures, sacrifices by fire, formulas, and saving lore are supplied
by the cow’s aid.
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 7026-7031
quote_or_summary: Vaśishṭha says the banquet was prepared by Dapple-skin and that
his treasures lie in her.
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 7032-7053
quote_or_summary: Viśvámitra, denied, offers thousands of elephants, chariots, horses,
ten million heifers, gems, and gold in exchange for Dapple-skin.
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 7054-7065
quote_or_summary: Vaśishṭha replies that he will never give away the cow, calling
her his gem, wealth, life, and support; he says his rites spring from her and
that she yields what he asks daily.
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: The passage clearly identifies figures, the sacred cow, proposed exchange,
refusal, and ritual dependence. Motif labels are cautious because available taxonomy
does not include a specific sacred cow or wish-granting animal category.
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: |-
Only the supplied passage and metadata were used; no comparison claims were added because the passage itself does not support an explicit cross-textual comparison.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:hindu-ramayana-griffith-gutenberg__l7001-l7065
passage_sha256=5d7739284be2ea333a688b4c93b53bd5e42dd8498a7ce2693b15e5e9d60d33b2