Here, in this very place, the mighty Vali was slain for the sake of Sugriva, O scorcher of foes. Indeed, this is Kishkindha, the kingdom once ruled by Vali himself. In this land, Sugriva, the righteous lord of the vanaras, dwelled for a hundred years among his people, O hero. It was during one such time, as Sugriva sat in his assembly surrounded by the vanaras, that the two heroic brothers, Bharata and Raghava, arrived at the gates of the city. As soon as Sugriva saw the brothers, he bowed respectfully and asked them, “O heroes, where are you headed? What task brings you here?” Sugriva then welcomed them with great honor, seating both on appropriate seats and personally offering them arghya, the traditional water of respect. Thus, as they sat in the assembly, the righteous Raghunandana, Rama, was present there. Soon, the great vanara leaders began to arrive: Angada, Hanuman, Nala, Nila, Patala, Gaja, Gavaksha, Gavaya, and the renowned Panasa. The priests and ministers came too, as did the astrologer Dadhivakraka, Shatabali, Mainda, Dvivida, Gandhamadana, and Nila. Virabahu, Subahu, Virasena, Vinayaka, Suryabha, Kumuda, and Sushena, the chief among monkeys, joined them. Rishabha, Vinata, Gavaksha of great valor, Riksharaja, and Dhumra all arrived, each with their armies. The inner chambers filled with excitement, as Ruma, Tara, the women of Angada’s household, and other attendants gathered. The great-souled vanaras, filled with incomparable joy, cried out together with Sugriva, “Well done! Well done!” The noble monkey women, led by Tara, gazed upon Raghava. Their throats choked with tears as they bowed and spoke: “O Lord, where is that goddess whom you, having conquered Ravana, purified in the fire before your father and Lord Shiva? You have brought back the city, Rama, but she is not by your side. Without her, O Raghunandana, your radiance is dimmed. Where does that virtuous Janaki dwell, even apart from you? We know of no other wife for you; without her, you do not shine. Just as a pair of krauncha birds or chakravaka geese belong together—so spoke Tara, whose beauty rivaled the moon.” Then Rama, lotus-eyed and foremost among speakers, addressed Tara, she of lovely teeth and wide eyes: “Time is indeed insurmountable. Know that all this world, both moving and unmoving, is governed by time. Let all the women depart now, for Sugriva stands before me.” Sugriva then spoke: “For what purpose have you both, O kings among men, come here? Tell me quickly, for the time for action is at hand.” As Sugriva spoke, Bharata, at Rama’s prompting, recounted the journey of Raghava to Lanka. Sugriva responded, “I will go with you both to the city. O Lord, I will go to see the rakshasa Vibhishana there.” When Sugriva had spoken thus, Raghava replied, “Go.” So Sugriva and the two Raghavas boarded the Pushpaka, the celestial chariot. Swiftly, the flying vehicle carried them to the northern shore of the ocean. Rama said to Bharata, “Here, the lord of the rakshasas, Vibhishana, came to me with four ministers, seeking refuge. Then, after being consecrated as king of Lanka by Lakshmana, he returned, and I remained here for three days on the far shore of the ocean. He promised me an audience, and my duty to my kinsman would be fulfilled. Until then, no audience was given to me. “On the fourth day, great anger arose in me. I strung my bow with speed and took up a divine weapon in my hand. Seeing me thus, Vibhishana, afraid, sought shelter with Lakshmana; by Sugriva’s persuasion, my anger was appeased—let me be forgiven, O Raghava. “The arrow I released was then diverted in the region of the wind, and the king of the ocean, exceedingly humble, addressed me: ‘By building a bridge, go to Lanka, O Raghava; cross over the great ocean, O tiger among men.’ “This bridge was built by me over the ocean, the abode of Varuna, and in three days it was completed by the best of the monkeys. On the first day, fourteen yojanas were built; on the second day, thirty-six; and on the third, fifty. “Here is Lanka, visible with its golden ramparts and gateways. A great siege was laid here by the best of the monkeys. On the fourteenth day of the bright half of Caitra, a great battle took place, and in forty-eight days, Ravana was slain. “Here, Prahasta, the foremost of rakshasas, was slain by Nila; Dhūmrākṣa was struck down by Hanuman. Mahodara and Atikāya were slain by the great-souled Sugriva; Kumbhakarna and Indrajit were killed by Lakshmana. And here, I myself slew Dasagriva, the ten-headed Ravana, the foremost of rakshasas. “Here, Brahma, the grandsire of the worlds, came to speak. The god Sūlapāṇi, the bull-bannered one, arrived with Parvati, and the hosts of gods led by Mahendra came, accompanied by Gandharvas and Kinnaras. My father, the great king from Triviṣṭapa, also arrived, surrounded by hosts of Apsarases and groups of Vidyādharas. “In the presence of all, Sita, desiring purity, was told: ‘Having entered the fire, O Sita, you have attained purity.’ Seen and taken by the gods and the lords of Lanka, by the command of my father, then I was told by the king: ‘Go to Ayodhya, my son.