Surpanakha, distressed and enraged by the defeat of Trishira, Khara the fierce, and Dushana—all who fought valiantly—hurried to Lanka. There, she threw herself at Ravana’s feet, her body trembling with fury and grief. With anger in her voice, she accused Ravana: “You are no king, nor a protector! Come now, kill Rama and seize his wife Sita!” Her rage was so intense that she declared, “I live only by drinking the blood of Rama and Lakshmana—nothing else will satisfy me.” Ravana, hearing her, agreed: “So be it.” He then turned to Maricha and commanded, “Go! Take the form of a golden, spotted deer and lure Rama and Lakshmana away. In Sita’s presence, I will seize her; otherwise, your death is certain.” Maricha protested, warning Ravana, “Rama, the wielder of the bow, is death itself. If I must die, it is better by Rama’s hand than yours.” With this resolve, Maricha transformed into a dazzling deer and wandered again and again before Sita, captivating her attention. Urged by Sita’s desire for the beautiful deer, Rama pursued and shot Maricha with an arrow. As he lay dying, Maricha cried out in a voice mimicking Rama, “Ha, Sita! Ha, Lakshmana!” Alarmed, Sita begged Lakshmana to go to Rama’s aid. As Lakshmana departed, Ravana seized his opportunity. He abducted Sita, slaying the noble vulture Jatayu who tried desperately to protect her. Wounded by Jatayu, Ravana placed Janaki on his lap and carried her to Lanka, to the Ashoka grove. There, he kept her and said, “Become my chief wife. Let this rakshasi guard you.” Meanwhile, Rama, having slain Maricha, met Lakshmana and spoke, “That was a magical deer, O Saumitri. Just as you have come here, in the same way, Sita has truly been abducted.” Rama did not see Sita as he departed. Overcome with grief and distress, Rama lamented, “Where have you gone, leaving me?” Lakshmana consoled him, and together they began searching for Janaki. Jatayu, before his death, revealed to Rama, “Ravana has carried her away.” Rama performed the last rites for Jatayu and soon after slew Kabandha. Narada recounts: Rama, having set out, spent the night in sorrow. Then, with Hanuman’s help, he befriended Sugriva. To prove his strength, Rama pierced seven palm trees with a single arrow and hurled Dundubhi’s body ten yojanas with his foot. He defeated Bali, Sugriva’s hostile brother, and entrusted Kishkindha, the kingdom of monkeys, and Ruma to Sugriva. Sugriva, now king of Kishkindha and dwelling at Rishyamuka, promised Rama, “You will recover Sita, just as I will act for you.” Hearing this, Rama performed a four-month vow atop Mount Malyavat, but Sugriva did not come to meet him in Kishkindha. Lakshmana, as Rama had instructed, went to Sugriva and said, “Go to Raghava. The path is clear—the way by which Bali was slain. Keep to the appointed time, Sugriva; do not follow the path of Bali.” Sugriva, apologetic, replied, “Absorbed, I did not notice the passage of time.” He then went to Rama, bowed, and said, “All the monkeys have been gathered for the search for Sita.” Sugriva ordered, “On my command, I will send them; let them search for Janaki. Let them return within a month; after a month, I will destroy them.” Thus instructed, the monkeys searched east, west, and north, journeying with Rama and Sugriva, but could not find Janaki. Hanuman, carrying Rama’s ring, searched in the south near the cave of Suprabha with his companions. After a month had passed without finding Janaki, they despaired, saying, “We shall die in vain; Jatayu alone is blessed.” For Sita’s sake, Jatayu had given his life, slain by Ravana in battle. Hearing this, Sampati, who had once considered the monkeys as food, spoke. Sampati revealed, “Jatayu was my brother. I was lifted up to the orb of the sun, but my wings were burned and I fell from the sky. Now, hearing news of Rama, my wings have grown again. I see Janaki—she is in the Ashoka grove in Lanka.” He described the vast salt ocean, stretching a hundred yojanas to Trikuta. He urged the monkeys, “Recognizing Rama and Sugriva, speak indeed.” Narada continues: Hearing Sampati’s words, Hanuman, Angada, and the others gazed at the ocean and wondered, “Who can cross this ocean and survive?” For the sake of the monkeys and to accomplish Rama’s purpose, Maruti (Hanuman) leapt across the hundred-yojana-wide ocean. He encountered the rising Mainaka and struck down Simhika, then saw Lanka, the rakshasa houses, and the women’s quarters. He saw the homes of Dasagriva (Ravana), Kumbha, Kumbhakarna, Vibhishana, Indrajit, and other rakshasas. Searching everywhere, Hanuman did not find Sita in the drinking halls or elsewhere. Finally, he went to the Ashoka grove and saw her beneath the shimshapa tree, guarded by rakshasis. Ravana was speaking to her, “Be my wife,” but Sita, steadfast beneath the tree, replied, “No.” Hanuman overheard the rakshasis urging Sita, “Be Ravana’s wife.” When Ravana departed, Hanuman revealed himself and spoke: “King Dasharatha was. Rama and Lakshmana are his sons, noble and dwelling 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. Take this signet ring, given by Rama, as proof.” Sita took the ring and saw the son of the Wind. Seated before him, she anxiously asked, “If he lives… why does Rama not rescue me?” Hanuman replied, “Rama, Sita, does not know; once he knows, he will rescue you.” Thus, the story unfolds, filled with devotion, courage, and the unwavering hope of reunion.