O Saumitri, a magical deer appeared, drawing Sita’s attention and leading her away; just as you have come here, so too was Sita truly abducted, and Rama did not see her as she was taken from his side. Overcome with grief and anguish, Rama cried out in distress, “Where have you gone, leaving me behind?” Lakshmana gently consoled him, and together they began searching for Janaki, the beloved Sita. As they wandered, they encountered the great bird Jatayu, who, with his dying breath, told them, “Ravana has carried her away.” After performing the final rites for the fallen Jatayu, Rama pressed on and slew the demon Kabandha, who blocked their way. Narada narrates: Rama, plunged in sorrow, spent the night grieving over his lost wife. But soon, with Hanuman’s help, he met Sugriva and forged a friendship with him. To prove his strength, Rama pierced seven mighty palm trees with a single arrow before all, and with his foot, he hurled the massive corpse of Dundubhi ten yojanas away. Having slain Bali, the hostile brother of Sugriva, Rama entrusted the kingdom of Kishkindha and Ruma to Sugriva, establishing him as king among the monkeys. Sugriva, now lord of the monkeys at Rishyamuka, promised Rama, “You will recover Sita, just as I will act for you.” Trusting in his word, Rama performed a four-month vow on Mount Malyavat, but Sugriva did not come to meet him as promised. Then, as Rama had instructed, Lakshmana went to Sugriva and said, “Go to Raghava; the path is now open, the way by which Bali was slain.” He reminded Sugriva, “Keep to the appointed time; do not follow the path of Bali.” Sugriva, realizing his delay, replied, “Absorbed in my duties, I did not notice the passage of time.” Recognizing his error, Sugriva went to Rama, bowed, and declared, “All the monkeys have been gathered for the search for Sita.” He commanded, “On my order, they will search for Janaki. Let them return within a month; if they do not, they will face destruction.” Thus instructed, the monkey hosts set out in all directions—east, west, and north—accompanied by Rama and Sugriva, but Janaki was not found. Hanuman, entrusted with Rama’s ring as a token, led a group southwards, searching near the cave of Suprabha. When a month had passed without finding Sita, the monkeys lamented, “We shall die in vain; only Jatayu is blessed, for he gave his life for her.” Moved by their words, Sampati, who had once considered the monkeys his food, spoke up. “Jatayu was my brother. Long ago, I soared to the sun’s orb; protected from its heat, I went, but my wings were burned, and I fell from the sky. Now, upon hearing news of Rama, my wings have grown again. I see Janaki—she is in Lanka, within the Ashoka grove.” He directed the monkeys: “Across the vast salt ocean, a hundred yojanas wide, at Trikuta, you will find her. Go, recognizing the alliance of Rama and Sugriva, and speak there.” Narada continues: Hearing Sampati’s revelation, Hanuman, Angada, and the other monkeys gazed at the ocean and wondered, “Who among us can cross this mighty expanse and survive?” For the sake of his companions and Rama’s purpose, Hanuman, the son of the Wind, resolved to leap across the ocean, a hundred yojanas wide. On his journey, Hanuman encountered the rising Mainaka mountain and struck down the demoness Simhika. At last, he beheld Lanka—the city of the rakshasas with their houses and women’s quarters. He saw the homes of Ravana (Dasagriva), Kumbha, Kumbhakarna, Vibhishana, Indrajit, and other demons, but Sita was nowhere to be found in the pleasure halls or elsewhere. Anxious, Hanuman finally went to the Ashoka grove, where he saw Sita beneath a shimshapa tree. There, Sita sat, guarded by fierce rakshasis, as Ravana pleaded with her, “Be my wife.” But Sita, steadfast beneath the tree, replied, “No.” The rakshasis urged her to accept Ravana, but Sita remained resolute. When Ravana departed, Hanuman revealed himself and spoke: “King Dasharatha was your father-in-law. Rama and Lakshmana, his sons, noble and exiled, dwell in the forest. You, Janaki, Rama’s wife, have been seized by Ravana.” He continued, “Rama, now Sugriva’s friend, has sent me to search for you. Here is his signet ring, a token of his love and promise.” Sita took the ring and recognized Hanuman, the son of the Wind. Seated before him, she asked anxiously, “If Rama lives, why does he not rescue me?” Hanuman replied, “Rama does not know your whereabouts; once he knows, he will surely come to save you.” Hanuman assured her, “Rama will slay Ravana and his forces. O queen, give me a token for him.” Sita gave Hanuman a 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 the jewel and her message, Hanuman said, “Your husband will come. Or, if you wish, I can carry you on my back to him.” Sita replied, “Lead me to Raghava, O Hanuman.” But Hanuman devised another means: to confront Dasagriva and display his might. He destroyed the Ashoka grove, slaying its guards with his teeth and nails. He defeated all the Kinkaras and the seven sons of Ravana’s ministers, and bound Aksha, Ravana’s son, whom Indra had once conquered. Captured with a serpent noose, Hanuman was brought before Ravana, whose eyes glowed tawny with anger. Ravana demanded, “Who are you?” Hanuman replied, “I am Rama’s messenger. Return 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 his brother Vibhishana. Instead, Ravana ordered Hanuman’s tail to be set alight. Hanuman, with his blazing tail, set Lanka and its demons aflame. Afterward, he sought Sita, bowed before her, and then leapt back across the ocean. Returning to Rama, Hanuman declared, “I have seen Sita.