batch.motif.hindu-ramayana-griffith-gutenberg-l9313-l9429
---
record_id: batch.motif.hindu-ramayana-griffith-gutenberg-l9313-l9429
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/hindu/project-gutenberg/ramayana-griffith.md
passage_locator:
label: Canto LXX. The Maidens Sought. / Canto LXXII. The Gift Of Kine. / Canto LXXIII.
The Nuptials. / Canto LXXV. The Parle.; lines 9313-9429
start: '9313'
end: '9429'
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 formidable Brahman ascetic, son of Jamadagni, confronts Ráma after hearing
that he broke a famous bow. He challenges Ráma to string and draw another divine
bow formerly associated with Vishṇu and then to fight him. Daśaratha pleads for
mercy, fearing Ráma's death would mean the destruction of them all. The challenger
recounts the origin and transmission of two celestial bows, a divine contest between
Śiva and Vishṇu, the murder of his father, his vengeance against warriors, his
gift of the conquered earth to Kaśyap, and his retreat to Mahendra mountain.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: A speaker addresses Ráma, says he has heard of the broken bow, and presents
another peerless bow as a test of Ráma's strength.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: The speaker says the bow he has brought was owned by his father Jamadagni.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: The speaker asks Ráma to draw the bow with an arrow and proposes single combat
if Ráma succeeds.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:6
- id: obs:4
text: Daśaratha reacts with dread and raises his hands in supplication while pleading
that the Brahman ascetic's children be left unharmed.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:5
text: Daśaratha says the Brahman had cast aside his fierce axe, left the earth to
Kaśyap, and gone to a grove beneath Mahendra mountain.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:6
text: 'The challenger describes two celestial bows: one given to the Three-eyed
God and another given to Vishṇu.'
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:7
text: The challenger recounts that the gods asked the Sire Most High to test whether
Vishṇu or the blue-necked god was stronger, leading to a confrontation between
Śiva and Vishṇu.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:8
text: The challenger says Śiva's bow failed when assailed by Vishṇu's might, and
that gods and heavenly sages gave preeminence to Vishṇu.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:9
text: The challenger says Śiva gave his bow to Devarát, ruler of Videha, to be handed
down, while Vishṇu's bow was lent to Richíka and later inherited by Jamadagni.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: obs:10
text: The challenger says Arjun treacherously killed Jamadagni, after which he waged
repeated vengeance against warriors.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:11
text: The challenger says he conquered the earth, gave it to Kaśyap, withdrew to
Mahendra's hill, and performed ascetic toil there.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:12
text: The challenger says he heard from startled gods in the airy regions of Ráma's
breaking of the bow and came swiftly.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Ráma
description: Hero addressed as a mighty chief and warrior who broke a bow and is
challenged to draw another divine bow.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:6
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Daśaratha
description: Aged king and father who fears for Ráma and pleads with the Brahman
ascetic.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Jamadagni's son / Brahman ascetic challenger
description: Speaker who brings his father's bow, recounts his lineage and deeds,
and challenges Ráma to string the bow and fight.
role_refs:
- role:4
- role:5
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Jamadagni
description: The challenger's father, former holder of the God-given bow, killed
by Arjun according to the challenger's account.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:5
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Śiva / Three-eyed God / blue-necked god
description: Divine recipient of one celestial bow; confronts Vishṇu and later gives
his bow to Devarát.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Vishṇu
description: Divine recipient and former owner of the second celestial bow; his
might prevails in the recounted divine confrontation.
role_refs:
- role:8
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:6
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Sire Most High
description: Divine figure asked by the gods to test whether Vishṇu or Śiva was
stronger.
role_refs:
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Devarát
description: Sage and ruler of Videha who receives Śiva's bow to pass down.
role_refs:
- role:11
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: Richíka
description: Recipient of Vishṇu's bow as a pledge and ornament before it passes
to Jamadagni.
role_refs:
- role:11
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:10
name_or_label: Arjun
description: Figure accused by the challenger of treacherously killing Jamadagni.
role_refs:
- role:12
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:11
name_or_label: Kaśyap
description: Holy figure to whom the challenger says he gave the conquered earth
after rites were completed.
role_refs:
- role:11
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:5
- id: fig:12
name_or_label: Gods and heavenly beings
description: Gods, minstrels, saints, and dwellers in the sky who witness, report,
or intervene in divine events.
role_refs:
- role:13
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:6
roles:
- id: role:1
label: renowned bow-breaker
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Ráma is addressed as the one whose exploit was bending and breaking a bow.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:2
label: tested warrior
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The challenger asks Ráma to draw Vishṇu's bow for the sake of warrior honour
before single combat.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:6
- id: role:3
label: supplicating father-king
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Daśaratha raises his hands and pleads in fear that Ráma and all of them may
perish.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:4
label: Brahman ascetic challenger
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Daśaratha calls him a Brahman who pursued ascetic toils, and the speaker
challenges Ráma.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:6
- id: role:5
label: bearer of Vishṇu's bow
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: The speaker says he holds the bow given to Vishṇu and inherited through his
family.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: role:6
label: avenger against warriors
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: The speaker says his fury has scourged warriors generation after generation
after his father's death.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:7
label: slain father and former bow-holder
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Jamadagni is identified as the challenger's father who retained the God-given
bow and was killed by Arjun.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:8
label: divine rival in strength-test
assigned_to:
- fig:5
- fig:6
basis: The gods seek a proof of whether Vishṇu or Śiva is mightier, and the two
meet as foes.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: role:9
label: divine superior in recounted contest
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: The account says Śiva's bow failed under Vishṇu's might and that heavenly
beings gave preeminence to Vishṇu.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:10
label: arbiter of divine test
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: The gods pray to the Sire Most High to test the two gods by proof.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:11
label: recipient in sacred transmission
assigned_to:
- fig:8
- fig:9
- fig:11
basis: Devarát receives Śiva's bow, Richíka receives Vishṇu's bow, and Kaśyap receives
the earth.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: role:12
label: treacherous killer
assigned_to:
- fig:10
basis: The challenger says Arjun slew Jamadagni by guile.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:13
label: heavenly witnesses and mediators
assigned_to:
- fig:12
basis: Heavenly beings ask that the divine strife cease and later speak of Ráma's
deed in the air.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:6
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: divine bow as test of prowess
literal_form: A mighty bow brought by the challenger and to be drawn by Ráma with
an arrow.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:6
- id: sym:2
label: paired celestial bows
literal_form: Two celestial, peerless, vast, strong bows, one associated with Śiva
and one with Vishṇu.
associated_figures:
- fig:5
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:3
label: fierce axe cast aside
literal_form: The challenger's fierce axe, said by Daśaratha to have been cast aside
after vows.
associated_figures:
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: sym:4
label: Mahendra mountain
literal_form: Mahendra's mountain peak or hill where the challenger withdrew for
ascetic toil.
associated_figures:
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs:
- mountain
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:5
- id: sym:5
label: town-destroying arrow
literal_form: An arrow to be brought onto Vishṇu's bow, described as destroying
a town.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: sym:6
label: conquered earth as gift
literal_form: The earth conquered by the challenger and given to Kaśyap after rites.
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:11
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Challenge after the broken bow
summary: The Brahman ascetic addresses Ráma, cites the fame of Ráma's broken bow,
presents another bow from Jamadagni, and demands that Ráma draw it before single
combat.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:6
- id: scene:2
label: Daśaratha's plea
summary: Daśaratha, fearful and supplicating, asks the ascetic not to endanger his
children and says that if Ráma falls they all perish.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:11
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: scene:3
label: Origin and rivalry of the two divine bows
summary: The challenger explains that two celestial bows were given respectively
to Śiva and Vishṇu; the gods sought a test, the two gods clashed, and Vishṇu's
might was judged superior.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:12
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: scene:4
label: Transmission of the bows
summary: Śiva's bow is said to pass to Devarát of Videha, while Vishṇu's bow is
lent to Richíka and then inherited by Jamadagni.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:8
- fig:9
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: scene:5
label: Vengeance, gift of earth, and withdrawal
summary: The challenger recounts Jamadagni's death by Arjun, his own vengeance against
warriors, his conquest and gift of the earth to Kaśyap, and his retreat to Mahendra
mountain for ascetic toil.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:10
- fig:11
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: hero tested by stringing a divine weapon
taxonomy_refs:
- initiation
basis: 'Ráma''s fame from breaking one bow leads to a new ordeal: drawing Vishṇu''s
bow and facing possible single combat.'
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:6
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage frames the action as a warrior's proof and challenge; assigning
it to initiation is interpretive and should be reviewed.
- id: motif:2
label: sacred transmission of divine weapons
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_exchange
basis: 'The two bows pass from gods to sages or rulers: Śiva''s bow to Devarát,
and Vishṇu''s bow to Richíka, Jamadagni, and the challenger.'
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
confidence: high
cautions: The passage describes gifts, loans, inheritance, and custody; the broader
ritual or legal context is not supplied here.
- id: motif:3
label: divine rivalry resolved by a strength-test
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_judgment
basis: The gods ask the Sire Most High for a proof of whether Vishṇu or Śiva is
mightier; the resulting confrontation leads heavenly beings to give preeminence
to Vishṇu.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
confidence: medium
cautions: The taxonomy label is approximate because the passage describes divine
testing and evaluation rather than a moral judgment.
- id: motif:4
label: avenging ascetic warrior destroys warrior lineages
taxonomy_refs:
- sacrifice
basis: After Jamadagni is killed, the challenger says his vengeful fury repeatedly
wars down warriors across generations.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
confidence: low
cautions: The passage emphasizes vengeance and repeated violence; the available
taxonomy does not include a close match, so the sacrifice reference is weak and
should be reviewed.
- id: motif:5
label: conquest followed by sacred donation of the earth
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_exchange
basis: The challenger says he brought all earth beneath his sway and gave it to
Kaśyap after rites.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
confidence: high
cautions: The passage does not elaborate the rite beyond saying it was performed
by Kaśyap.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 9313-9330
quote_or_summary: The challenger addresses heroic Ráma, mentions the fame of the
broken bow, says he has brought a peerless bow owned by Jamadagni, and asks Ráma
to draw it before single combat.
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 9331-9354
quote_or_summary: Daśaratha, fearful and supplicating, pleads with the Brahman ascetic,
recalls his vows, abandoned axe, ceding of earth to Kaśyap, retreat to Mahendra,
and fears all will die if Ráma falls.
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 9355-9374
quote_or_summary: 'The challenger ignores Daśaratha and tells Ráma of two celestial
bows: one given to the Three-eyed God and another to Vishṇu; the gods ask the
Sire Most High to test the rivals'' might.'
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 9375-9394
quote_or_summary: Śiva and Vishṇu meet as foes; Vishṇu's raised voice leaves Śiva's
bowstring ineffective, heavenly beings ask for peace, and Vishṇu is given preeminence;
Śiva then gives his bow to Devarát of Videha.
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 9395-9418
quote_or_summary: Vishṇu's bow is lent to Richíka and inherited by Jamadagni; Arjun
kills Jamadagni by guile; the challenger avenges him against warriors, conquers
earth, gives it to Kaśyap, and retires to Mahendra for penance.
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 9419-9429
quote_or_summary: The challenger hears from gods of Ráma's bow-breaking deed, comes
swiftly, offers the bow once owned by Vishṇu, and asks Ráma to draw it with a
town-destroying arrow before single combat.
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: high
notes: Extraction is based only on the supplied English passage. Motif taxonomy
mapping is partly approximate where the available taxonomy lacks exact categories
for divine weapon ordeal, divine rivalry, and vengeance.
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 compare this episode to another corpus or tradition.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:hindu-ramayana-griffith-gutenberg__l9313-l9429
passage_sha256=12c08b688ed7d9b9fe299b55b83d15ebe5a241d70026189c3eeb6c5b7e80e971