For the sake of the monkeys’ survival and to fulfill Rama’s purpose, the mighty Maruti—Hanuman, son of the Wind—gathered his immense strength and leapt across the vast ocean, which stretched a hundred yojanas wide. As he soared above the waves, he encountered the golden Mainaka mountain rising from the waters, and soon after, he struck down the fearsome Simhika who tried to impede his journey. Reaching the distant shore, Hanuman beheld the city of Lanka, its splendid houses, the abodes of the rakshasas, and the secluded quarters of their women. He saw the grand mansions of Dasagriva—Ravana himself—of Kumbha, Kumbhakarna, Vibhishana, Indrajit, and other powerful rakshasas. Searching everywhere, Hanuman did not find Sita in the drinking halls or in any other place; troubled with anxious thoughts, he pressed on until, entering the Ashoka grove, he saw her at last, seated in sorrow beneath a shimshapa tree. There, Hanuman witnessed Sita, guarded closely by rakshasis. Ravana himself stood before her, pleading, “Be my wife,” but Sita, steadfast in her devotion, replied from beneath the tree, “No.” The monkey heard the rakshasis urging her, “Be Ravana’s wife,” but Sita remained resolute. When Ravana departed, Hanuman revealed himself. He spoke: “King Dasharatha was. Rama and Lakshmana, his noble sons, dwell in the forest. You, Janaki, Rama’s wife, have been seized by Ravana by force.” He continued, “Rama, Sugriva’s friend, sent me to search for you. Here, take this signet ring, given by Rama, as proof.” Sita accepted the ring and recognized Hanuman, son of the Wind. Seated before him, she spoke with hope and longing, “If he lives…” and then, anxiously, “Why does Rama not rescue me?” The monkey gently replied, “Rama does not know; once he knows, he will surely rescue you.” Hanuman assured her, “Rama will slay Ravana and his forces. O queen, give me a token for him.” Sita then gave Hanuman a precious jewel and said, “As Rama would quickly rescue me, so do you; recount to him the story of the crow’s attack, and go, O remover of sorrow.” Taking both the jewel and her story, Hanuman promised, “Your husband will come.” He added, “Or, if you wish, some woman may climb onto my back, O auspicious one. Today I will show you, along with Sugriva, to Raghava.” Sita replied, “Lead me to Raghava, O Hanuman.” But Hanuman, devising a means to see Dasagriva, began to destroy the forest, slaying its guards with his teeth and nails. He defeated all the Kinkaras and the seven sons of ministers, and bound Aksha, the prince, whom even Indra had conquered. With the serpent noose, Hanuman allowed himself to be brought before Ravana, whose eyes glowed tawny with fury. Ravana demanded, “Who are you?” and Hanuman replied, “I am Rama’s messenger. Give Sita to Raghava, or you will die. Surely, you and the demons of Lanka will be slain by Rama’s arrows.” Ravana, intent on killing Hanuman, was restrained by Vibhishana. Instead, Hanuman’s tail was set alight, and with his blazing tail, he leapt through Lanka, burning the city and its demons. Afterward, he sought out Sita once more, bowed to her, and then crossed the ocean to return to Rama, declaring, “I have seen Sita.” Meanwhile, Angada and the other monkeys, led by Angada, drank honey in the honey grove. After overcoming Dadhimukha and the others, they joyfully announced, “Sita has been seen.” Rama, delighted, asked Hanuman, “How did you see Sita? What did she say to me? Sprinkle me with the nectar of Sita’s story, born from the fire of desire.” Hanuman replied, “I crossed the ocean and came. Having seen Sita and burned the city, take the Sita-jewel. Kill Ravana, and you will recover Sita. Rama, do not grieve.” Taking the jewel, Rama wept, distressed by separation. Gazing at the jewel, he said, “Janaki has been seen. Sita, bring me to her. Without her, I cannot live.” Sugriva and the others consoled him, and together they went to the ocean shore, where Vibhishana approached Rama. Vibhishana had come, rejected by his brother Ravana, the wicked one. He pleaded, “Give Sita to Rama,” but stood alone and without allies. Rama welcomed Vibhishana, made him his friend, and installed him as the lord of Lanka. When the ocean did not yield a path, Rama pierced it with arrows. The ocean split, and as the deity appeared, Rama spoke, “With Nala, build a bridge across the sea and go to Lanka, O deep one. You were made by me before; Rama too, with Nala’s bridge, crossed the great ocean, built with trees and mountains.” Then Narada said: “Angada went and spoke to Ravana as Rama commanded: ‘Give Janaki to Raghava at once, or you will die.’ Ravana, eager for battle, replied to Rama, ‘The ten-headed one considers only single combat.’ Hearing this, Rama went to Lanka for battle, accompanied by the monkeys: Hanuman, Mainda, Dwivida, Jambavan, and Nala; Nil, Tara, Angada, Dhubhra, Sushena, Kesari, Gaya, Panasa, Vinata, Rambha, Sharabha, Kathana, and the mighty one; Gavākṣa, Dadhivaktra, Gavaya, Gandhamādana, and Sugrīva, along with countless others. A tumultuous battle erupted between the rakshasas and the vanaras. The rakshasas struck down the vanaras with arrows, spears, maces, and other weapons, while the vanaras killed the rakshasas with claws, teeth, rocks, and more. The rakshasa army of elephants, horses, chariots, and foot soldiers was destroyed. Hanuman slew the enemy Dhumraksha with a mountain peak; Nila killed Akampana and Prahasta in battle. Freed from Indrajit’s bonds of arrows, Rama and Lakshmana, after seeing Garuda, struck down the rakshasa army with their arrows. Rama wounded Ravana in battle with his shafts, and Ravana, distressed and enraged, awakened his mighty brother Kumbhakarna.