After the mighty Ravana, king of the rakshasas, was slain along with his forces, Hanuman approached Sita and requested a token to carry back to Rama. Sita, with trust and hope, handed Hanuman a precious jewel. She spoke to him, “Just as Rama will swiftly rescue me, so must you hasten. Tell him the tale of the crow’s attack, and go, O remover of sorrow.” Taking both the jewel and Sita’s words, Hanuman assured her, “Your husband will come for you.” He offered, “If you wish, O auspicious one, perhaps you may climb onto my back, and I will carry you away.” Yet Sita, steadfast in her devotion, replied, “Show me, along with Sugriva, to Raghava. Lead me to Rama, O Hanuman.” Determined, Hanuman devised a way to confront Dasagriva, Ravana himself. He tore through the forest, destroying its guards with his formidable teeth and nails. He slew all the Kinkaras and the seven sons of Ravana’s ministers. Hanuman bound Aksha, Ravana’s son, whom even Indra had conquered. Using a serpent noose, Hanuman presented himself before Ravana, whose eyes glowed tawny with rage. Ravana demanded, “Who are you?” Hanuman replied with fearless dignity, “I am Rama’s messenger. Surrender Sita to Raghava, or you will perish. Surely, you and all the demons of Lanka will be destroyed by Rama’s arrows.” Ravana, intent on killing Hanuman, was restrained by his noble brother Vibhishana. Instead, Ravana ordered Hanuman’s tail be set alight. Hanuman’s tail blazed like fire, and he used it to burn Lanka and its demons. Afterwards, Hanuman returned to Sita, bowed respectfully, and then crossed the ocean back to Rama, declaring, “I have seen Sita.” Meanwhile, Angada and his companions celebrated in the honey grove, drinking honey and defeating Dadhimukha and others. They joyously proclaimed, “Sita has been seen!” Rama, delighted, questioned Hanuman, “How did you see Sita? What message did she give me?” Rama pleaded, “Sprinkle me with the nectar of Sita’s story, born from the fire of my longing.” Hanuman recounted, “I crossed the ocean and found Sita. I saw her and burned the city. Here is Sita’s jewel. Slay Ravana, and you will recover Sita. Rama, do not grieve.” Taking the jewel, Rama was overcome with sorrow at his separation from Sita and wept. Seeing the token, he exclaimed, “Janaki has been seen. Sita, bring me to her. Without her, I cannot live.” Sugriva and the others consoled Rama, and together they went to the ocean’s shore, where Vibhishana, now rejected by his brother Ravana, met Rama. Vibhishana urged, “Give Sita to Rama,” but he stood alone, without allies. Rama welcomed Vibhishana as a friend and installed him as lord of Lanka. When the ocean refused to grant passage, Rama pierced it with arrows. The ocean appeared and Rama commanded, “With Nala, build a bridge across the sea and go to Lanka, O deep one.” The ocean replied, “You created me before; with Nala’s bridge, Rama crossed the great ocean, using trees and mountains.” Narada then spoke: Angada went to Ravana, as Rama commanded, and demanded, “Give Janaki to Raghava at once, or you will die.” Ravana, fierce and eager for battle, replied to Rama, “The ten-headed one desires only single combat.” Hearing this, Rama marched to Lanka for battle, accompanied by Hanuman, Mainda, Dwivida, Jambavan, Nala, and many others: Nil, Tara, Angada, Dhubhra, Sushena, Kesari, Gaya, Panasa, Vinata, Rambha, Sharabha, Kathana, the mighty Gavaksha, Dadhivaktra, Gavaya, Gandhamadana, Sugriva, and countless vanaras. 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 fought back fiercely 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 fierce combat. Rama and Lakshmana, freed from Indrajit’s magical bonds by Garuda’s presence, struck down the rakshasa army with their arrows. Rama wounded Ravana in battle, and Ravana, distressed, awakened his mighty brother Kumbhakarna. Kumbhakarna, once awakened, drank a thousand jars of liquor and devoured buffaloes and other animals. He rebuked Ravana, “Because you, my elder, committed the sinful abduction of Sita, I will now go to battle and kill Rama along with the vanaras.” With this, Kumbhakarna crushed the vanaras, seized Sugriva, and cut off his ears and nose. Sugriva, deprived of his ears and nose, was devoured among the vanaras. Then Kumbha, Nikumbha, and the rakshasa Makaraksha appeared. Kumbhakarna cut off their feet and cast their heads to the ground. Mahodara, Mahaparsva, the intoxicated and fierce rakshasa, Praghāsa, Bhāsakarna, and Virupaksha entered the battle. Devantaka, Naranta, and the mighty Trishiras—all these rakshasas, along with the vanaras and Vibhishana, were opposed by Rama and Lakshmana. As the battle raged, many rakshasas were struck down. Indrajit, using his magic, bound Rama and the others during combat. With serpent-arrows granted as boons, and by the healing herbs brought by Hanuman, son of the wind-god, Rama and Lakshmana were freed from their wounds and made whole. Hanuman carried the mountain where the healing herb was found. There, Lakshmana attacked Indrajit as he performed a sacrifice at Nikumbhila, setting the stage for the final confrontation.