batch.motif.hindu-ramayana-griffith-gutenberg-l7343-l7376
---
record_id: batch.motif.hindu-ramayana-griffith-gutenberg-l7343-l7376
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
passage_locator:
label: Canto XLVII. Sumati. / Canto L. Janak. / Canto LIV. The Battle. / Canto LV.
The Hermitage Burnt.; lines 7343-7376
start: '7343'
end: '7376'
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 saint empowered by divine lore uses a Brahman wand or staff to consume
the dart of Brahma. Sparks and smoke issue from him, and the staff glows like
Yama’s sceptre or a world-destroying fire of Fate. Awed hermits praise him and
ask him to restrain his power so the worlds may rest. The saint calms his wrath.
A king, overpowered and ashamed, declares warrior strength inferior to Brahman
power and resolves to begin austerities to win Brahmanhood.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: The saint’s Brahman wand, empowered by divine lore, devours the dart.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: The triple world watches the sight with awe.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: As the dart of Brahma is swallowed, sparks break from the saint’s pores and
hair-cells, with smoke around them.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:4
text: The staff waved by the saint is described as glowing like Yama’s sceptre and
like the fire of Fate that will desolate worlds.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:5
text: The hermits praise the saint and ask him to restrain his might so the worlds
may rest from trouble.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:6
text: The hermits state that Viśvámitra has been discomfited by the saint.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:7
text: After the hermits speak, the saint appeases the fury of his wrath.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:8
text: The king, overpowered and ashamed, says that warrior strength is slight and
Brahman power is true might.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:9
text: The king says the Brahman staff held by the hermit has quelled the fury of
his darts.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:10
text: The king resolves to begin an austere task, rule his senses, become tranquil,
and strive to win Brahmanhood.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: the saint
description: A saint or sage holding a Brahman wand or staff, able to consume the
dart of Brahma and then restrain his wrath.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: the hermits
description: Hermits who are awed by the sight, praise the saint, and ask him to
restrain his power.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: the king
description: A king who is overpowered and ashamed, acknowledges Brahman power over
warrior strength, and vows to pursue austerity and Brahmanhood.
role_refs:
- role:4
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Viśvámitra
description: Named by the hermits as strong and dread and as having been discomfited
by the saint.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Yama
description: Named in a simile comparing the glowing staff to Yama’s sceptre, King
below.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Brahma
description: Named as the associated figure of the dart swallowed by the saint’s
power.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
roles:
- id: role:1
label: Brahmanical victor
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The saint’s Brahman staff consumes or quells the opposing dart or darts.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:5
- id: role:2
label: wrathful power restrained
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The hermits ask the saint to restrain his might, and he appeases his wrath.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: role:3
label: praising witnesses and intercessors
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: The hermits are awed, praise the saint, and request that he let the worlds
rest from trouble.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:4
label: defeated king
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: The king is described as overpowered and ashamed after the Brahman staff
has quelled the fury of his darts.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:5
label: aspirant to Brahmanhood
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: The king resolves to undertake austerity and strive to win Brahmanhood.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: role:6
label: discomfited opponent
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: The hermits state that Viśvámitra, strong and dread, has been discomfited
by the saint.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:7
label: underworld royal comparator
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: Yama is invoked only in a simile for the glowing staff as King below.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:8
label: divine source-name of weapon
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: The swallowed dart is called the dart of Brahma.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: Brahman wand or staff
literal_form: A Brahman wand or staff held and waved by the saint.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:5
- id: sym:2
label: dart of Brahma
literal_form: A dart associated with Brahma, swallowed or devoured by the saint’s
empowered wand.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:3
label: sparks and smoke
literal_form: Sparks breaking from pores and hair-cells, enveloped in smoke.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:4
label: lurid fire of Fate
literal_form: 'A simile for the staff’s glow: a fire of Fate whose rage will desolate
the worlds.'
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: sym:5
label: Yama’s sceptre
literal_form: A sceptre of Yama, King below, used as a simile for the glowing staff.
associated_figures:
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: sym:6
label: austere task
literal_form: The king’s stated future practice of austerity, sense-rule, and tranquil
striving for Brahmanhood.
associated_figures:
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Brahman staff overcomes the dart
summary: The saint’s Brahman wand or staff, empowered by divine lore, consumes the
dart of Brahma while sparks and smoke issue from him and the worlds watch in awe.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Cosmic glow of the staff
summary: The saint waves the glowing staff, which is compared to Yama’s sceptre
and to a fire of Fate that will desolate the worlds.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:4
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: scene:3
label: Hermits praise and request restraint
summary: The awed hermits praise the saint, say Viśvámitra has been discomfited,
and ask the saint to restrain his might so the worlds may rest.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:4
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: scene:4
label: Wrath appeased and royal resolve
summary: The saint calms his wrath. The king, ashamed by defeat, acknowledges Brahman
power over warrior strength and resolves to undertake austerity to win Brahmanhood.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: Brahmanical power overcomes martial weaponry
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The king says warrior strength is slight, while the Brahman staff has quelled
the fury of his darts.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
confidence: high
cautions: The passage frames the contrast explicitly, but no external motif taxonomy
reference is supplied for this exact pattern.
- id: motif:2
label: Wrathful sacred power restrained for the world’s welfare
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The hermits ask the saint to restrain his might and let the worlds rest,
after which the saint appeases his wrath.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
confidence: high
cautions: The passage does not describe further consequences after the restraint.
- id: motif:3
label: Austerity as path to changed spiritual status
taxonomy_refs:
- initiation
basis: The defeated king resolves to rule his senses, become tranquil, begin an
austere task, and strive to win Brahmanhood.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage records only the vow to begin austerity, not the completion
of initiation or transformation.
- id: motif:4
label: World-destroying fire image
taxonomy_refs:
- world_destroying_fire
basis: The staff’s glow is compared to the lurid fire of Fate whose rage will desolate
the worlds.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
confidence: medium
cautions: The world-destroying fire is a simile for the staff’s appearance, not
an actual world-ending event in this passage.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: quote
locator: 7343-7352
quote_or_summary: "“The saint, with Bráhman wand, empowered / By lore divine that
dart devoured”; the triple world watches; sparks and smoke issue as he swallows
the dart of Brahma."
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short quotation used for evidence.
- id: ev:2
type: quote
locator: 7353-7356
quote_or_summary: "“The staff he waved was all aglow / Like Yáma’s sceptre” and
like “the lurid fire of Fate / Whose rage the worlds will desolate.”"
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short quotation used for evidence.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: 7357-7366
quote_or_summary: The awed hermits praise the saint, ask him to restrain his might,
request rest for the worlds, and say Viśvámitra has been discomfited by him.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized evidence.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: 7367-7368
quote_or_summary: After being addressed by the hermits, the saint is pleased and
appeases the fury of his wrath.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized evidence.
- id: ev:5
type: quote
locator: 7369-7374
quote_or_summary: The king is “o’erpowered and ashamed” and declares, “Warriors’
strength is poor and slight; / A Bráhman’s power is truly might,” adding that
the Brahman staff has quelled his darts.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short quotation used for evidence.
- id: ev:6
type: quote
locator: 7375-7376
quote_or_summary: 'The king resolves: “My task austere will I begin, / And Bráhmanhood
will strive to win.”'
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short quotation used for evidence.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: uncertain
notes: Literal extraction is strongly supported by the supplied passage. Motif labels
are passage-based; taxonomy links are limited to available references and are
cautious where the passage uses simile rather than event.
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 explicitly support a cross-text or cross-tradition comparison.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:hindu-ramayana-griffith-gutenberg__l7343-l7376
passage_sha256=b36ea36dcedf5b352747ddd95c89e0a6b4b5067192de14bf3b3bb14f729f75bf