Hanumān, the radiant son of the Wind, whose face gleamed like the rising sun and whose form resembled a golden mountain, approached Rāma with palms joined in reverence. He spoke with gratitude, acknowledging that, by Rāma’s grace, he had attained the great ancestral kingdom of the Vānaras—a realm fierce and strong, difficult even for the noblest souls to secure. With Rāma’s permission, Hanumān declared, he and his companions would now enter the auspicious city, arrange its affairs, and perform the necessary rituals. Sugrīva, having bathed and been anointed with fragrant herbs, would especially honor Rāma with garlands and jewels, inviting him to the delightful mountain cave to establish his bond as lord and bring joy to the Vānaras. Rāma, the wise and eloquent, listened and replied gently to Hanumān. He explained that, for fourteen years, whether it be a village or a city, he would not enter, for he was upholding his father’s command. He asked that Sugrīva, the foremost of Vānaras, enter the splendid cave as was proper and be quickly consecrated as king. Turning to Sugrīva, Rāma advised him to consecrate the heroic Aṅgada as crown prince, for Aṅgada was the eldest son of the eldest, equal in valor, undaunted in spirit, and worthy of the office. Rāma noted that the first month of the rainy season, Śrāvaṇa, had begun, with the waters arriving and the four months of rain commencing. This was not the time for action; instead, Sugrīva should enter the city, while Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa would remain on the mountain. The mountain cave was delightful, spacious, filled with pleasant breezes, abundant waters, and blooming lotuses and water-lilies. When Kārtika arrived, they would resume their quest to slay Rāvaṇa, as agreed. Until then, Sugrīva should consecrate himself in the kingdom and gladden his friends. Thus permitted by Rāma, Sugrīva, the foremost of Vānaras, entered the delightful city of Kiṣkindhā, once ruled by Vāli. Thousands of Vānaras followed their lord, surrounding him from all sides. Upon seeing their leader, the chiefs of the monkey hosts bowed their heads and fell to the earth in concentration. Sugrīva, strong in valor, addressed them and raised them up. Sugrīva then entered the pleasant inner quarters of his brother, and his friends anointed him, as the immortals once anointed Indra. For Sugrīva, they brought a pale parasol adorned with gold, white fly-whisks with golden handles, all manner of gems, seeds of medicinal plants, sprouts and flowers from milk-bearing trees, pure white garments, and white unguents. They gathered unbroken rice, gold, fragrant priyaṅgu, honey mixed with clarified butter, curds, a tiger skin, and two valuable sandals. Sixteen noble maidens arrived, bearing the ceremonial thread, yellow pigment, and manahshila. To anoint Sugrīva as the foremost monkey according to tradition, they satisfied eminent Brahmins with gems, garments, and food. Upon a place strewn with sacred grass and with the fire kindled, ritual experts offered oblations purified by mantras. Afterwards, on a golden platform covered with splendid bedding atop a beautiful palace adorned with garlands, they seated Sugrīva facing east on a splendid throne, according to ritual and mantras. They gathered water from rivers, lakes, and all the seas, placing pure water in golden vessels, auspicious bull-horned pitchers, and golden pots as prescribed by scripture and established by great sages. Gaja, Gavaksha, Gavaya, Sharabha, Gandhamadana, Mainda, Dvivida, Hanumān, and Jāmbavān anointed Sugrīva with pleasing, fragrant water, as the Vasus had once anointed Indra with a thousand eyes. When Sugrīva had been anointed, all the foremost monkeys, great-souled and delighted, shouted in their hundreds of thousands. Following Rāma’s word, Sugrīva embraced Aṅgada and anointed him as crown prince. When Aṅgada had been anointed, the compassionate Vānaras honored Sugrīva, praising him with cries of “Well done, well done!” Again and again, all those present joyfully praised Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa in that gathering. The city of Kiṣkindhā, nestled within the mountain cave, became filled with joyful and prosperous people, adorned with banners and flags. Having reported the great consecration to Rāma, Sugrīva, who had regained his wife Ruma, attained the kingdom like the lord of the gods. Thus concludes the twenty-sixth sarga. Listen now to the twenty-seventh sarga in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, in the Kishkindha Kāṇḍa, the twenty-seventh sarga.