With great purpose, the vanaras were instructed to search far and wide for Rama’s beloved wife, Sita. Their quest would take them through lands inhabited by the Kiratas, those who live by eating raw fish, and across islands where fierce water-dwellers, known as human tigers, reside. They were to seek out all the forest-dwellers who find refuge among these people, and those who live in places reached only by mountains, by swimming, or by boats—no stone was to be left unturned. Their search would extend as far as Yavadvipa, a splendid island ruled by seven kings, adorned with gold and silver and decorated with shining gold mines. Beyond Yavadvipa stood the mighty mountain called Shishira, its peak touching the very sky, attended by gods and danavas alike. Among all the mountain strongholds, precipitous cliffs, and deep forests in these regions, the vanaras were to search together for Sita, Rama’s illustrious wife. Pressing onward, they would reach the river Shona, whose swift waters ran red, and cross to the far shore of the ocean, a place frequented by siddhas and charanas. In its beautiful fords and wondrous forests, they were to seek everywhere for Ravana and Vaidehi. The rivers flowing from the mountains, with their dreadful ravines, were to be explored, along with the caves within the mountains and the forests. Afterward, the vanaras would behold the islands of the ocean—terrifying, wavy, exceedingly fierce, roaring, and agitated by the wind. There, great-bodied asuras, permitted by Brahma, would be found constantly seizing shadows, long famished. Approaching that vast, roaring ocean, resembling a dark rain cloud and frequented by great serpents, the vanaras would reach sacred waters. Then, they would come upon the dreadful ocean called Lohita, whose waters were red as blood, and see the great and towering Kuta-Shalmali tree. There, terrifying demons known as Mandehas, resembling mountains, hung from the peaks in various fearsome forms. Each day, as the sun rose, these demons would fall into the water, scorched by its rays, only to hang suspended once more. Day after day, they were destroyed by the radiance of Brahma. Next, the vanaras would see the ocean called Kshiroda, white as pale clouds. Upon reaching it, they would witness a formidable ocean adorned with waves like a garland of pearls, and amid its expanse stood the great white mountain called Rishabha. This mountain was surrounded by others covered with divine, fragrant blossoms, and there was a lake filled with radiant lotuses with golden filaments. That lake, named Sudarshana, was crowded with royal swans; gods, celestial bards, yakshas, kinnaras, and groups of apsaras gathered there, joyful and desiring its beauty. After crossing the Kshiroda ocean, the vanaras would find the swift, fearsome ocean called Jaloda, terrifying to all beings. Here, the great fiery energy, taking the form of a horse’s mouth—the Vadavamukha—was created. Its mighty force, together with all moving and unmoving beings, was drawn in by its jaws. The cries of ocean-dwellers and other beings were heard, helpless as they beheld the Vadavamukha. On the northern shore of that sweet ocean, thirteen yojanas away, stood the great mountain called Jatarupa-shila, shining with the brilliance of gold. There, the vanaras would see the serpent-lord, resembling the moon, with eyes wide as lotus petals, resting upon the mountain. At the summit, worshipped by all the gods, was the divine Ananta, the thousand-headed one, clothed in blue garments. At the peak of that great soul’s mountain stood a golden banner with three heads, set upon a platform, shining brilliantly. On the eastern side, this structure was built by the lords of the gods; beyond it lay the splendid, golden Udaya mountain. Udaya’s peak stretched a hundred yojanas, touching the sky—a divine, golden, radiant summit with a shining platform. It was adorned with blossoming sala, palm, tamala, and karnikara trees, all made of divine gold and shining like the sun. There stood a peak named Saumanasa, ten yojanas high and spanning a yojana, certainly made of pure gold. In ancient times, Vishnu placed his first step here during his three strides; the Supreme Person set his second step upon the summit of Meru. Circling northward around Jambudvīpa, the sun became visible, especially upon that great and lofty peak. There, the Vaikhānasa sages known as Vālakhilyas, radiant and ascetic, could be seen shining with the hue of the sun. This Sudarshana island shone before the vanaras, and in it was found the brilliance and vision of all living beings. On the ridges, caves, and forests of that mountain, the vanaras were to search for Ravana and Vaidehi thoroughly and everywhere. The eastern twilight appeared crimson, illuminated by the radiance of the golden mountain and the great sun. This was the eastern gateway of the earth and the world, the place of the sun’s rising—this was called the eastern direction. On the ridges, waterfalls, and caves of that mountain, the vanaras were to search for Ravana and Vaidehi thoroughly and everywhere. Beyond that lay an inaccessible region, the eastern quarter surrounded by the gods, devoid of moon and sun, unseen and enveloped in darkness. In all those mountains, caves, and rivers, and in places not mentioned, the vanaras were to search for Janaki. But, O foremost of monkeys, it was possible to reach only this far; beyond lay a sunless, boundless realm, of which nothing was known. Thus, the search for Sita was to be carried out with diligence and devotion, in every place described, until the boundaries of the known world were reached.