As the search for Sītā was about to begin, the mighty leader of the monkeys gathered his chief warriors and spoke to them with great care. He named every difficult and distant region in the southern direction, assigning each to a chief among the monkeys, ensuring that no place would be overlooked. He described the vast Vindhya mountains, crowned with a thousand peaks and thick with a multitude of trees and vines, and the enchanting Narmadā river, its banks frequented by majestic serpents. He spoke of the beautiful Godāvarī, the powerful river Kṛṣṇaveṇī, and the illustrious Varadā, all abounding with serpents, as well as the renowned cities of Mekhalā, Utkalā, and Daśārṇa. He instructed them to observe Abravantī and Avantī, and to search among the Vidarbhas, the Riṣṭikas, and the delightful Mahīṣakas. The Vangas, Kalingas, and Kausikas were to be searched as well, along with the dense Dandaka forest, with its mountains, rivers, and hidden caves. He urged them to observe every part of the Godāvarī, and to visit the lands of the Andhras, Puṇḍras, Cholas, Pāṇḍyas, and Keralas. Their journey would take them to Ayomukha, a mountain gleaming with minerals, its slopes adorned with varied peaks and forests blossoming with many flowers. They were to search for the great mountain with its fragrant sandalwood groves, and the divine river whose waters were clear and peaceful. At the banks of the Kaverī, where groups of Apsarases danced and played, they would come before the mighty Malaya mountain, radiant with energy. There, they would behold the sage Agastya, foremost among rishis, shining like the sun. With his gracious permission, they would cross the great river Tāmraparṇī, whose crocodile-filled waters hid islands and were bordered by sandalwood forests. The Tāmraparṇī, like a lovely maiden embracing her beloved, flowed into the ocean. At that meeting of river and sea, the monkeys would see the divine golden gate, adorned with pearls and gems, the gateway of the Pāṇḍyas. Reaching the ocean’s edge, they were to pause, reflect, and consider the true purpose of their quest. In the midst of the southern ocean, established by Agastya, stood the splendid Mahendra mountain, foremost among peaks, its summits varied and majestic. Deep within the vast ocean they would find a radiant island of pure gold, adorned with blossoming mountains and winding creepers. This wondrous island shone with the presence of gods, sages, yakṣas, and apsarases, and was alive with assemblies of siddhas and cāraṇas, making it a place of great delight. Indra, the thousand-eyed king of the gods, visited it at every festival. Beyond its far shore lay another island, a hundred yojanas wide, inaccessible to humans and blazing with its own radiance. There, above all, they were to search for Sītā with utmost effort, for this was the dwelling place of the wicked Rāvaṇa, the slayer and lord of rākṣasas, whose brilliance rivaled even Indra’s. In the midst of the southern ocean, a fearsome rākṣasī named Aṅgārakā dwelt, famed for seizing and devouring shadows. The monkeys were to resolve all doubts, cast aside uncertainty, and search for the wife of the illustrious king. Farther still, a hundred yojanas into the ocean, stood the splendid mountain called Puṣpitaka, frequented by siddhas and cāraṇas. Its peaks shone like the rays of the moon and sun, embraced by the ocean’s waters, rising so high they seemed to scratch the very sky. One golden peak was worshipped by the sun, and one silver-white peak was worshipped by the moon; only the virtuous could see these, for the ungrateful, cruel, or faithless were denied this vision. The monkeys were to bow their heads in reverence at that mountain and search it thoroughly. Beyond it lay the formidable mountain Sūryavān, with a path difficult to traverse, stretching fourteen yojanas. Past Sūryavān was the mountain Vaidyuta, where trees bore every desired fruit and the land was delightful in all seasons. There, the monkeys could enjoy the finest roots and fruits, drink excellent honey, and then press onward. They would come upon the mountain Kuñjara, pleasing to the eye and mind, where the abode of Agastya stood, crafted by Viśvakarman himself—ten yojanas high and one yojana wide. There was a divine golden sanctuary adorned with many jewels, and nearby lay the city called Bhogavatī, the dwelling of serpents. Bhogavatī’s broad streets were formidable, guarded on all sides by fierce serpents with sharp fangs and deadly venom. Within that city dwelled the dreadful serpent king Vāsuki. The monkeys were instructed to search Bhogavatī as well, and the lands beyond, wherever beings might be assembled. Beyond these lands lay the great abode of the bull, where stood the illustrious mountain Ṛṣabha, made entirely of precious gems, and covered in gośīrṣaka, padmaka, hariśyāma, and sandalwood trees. There, the Gandharvas called Rohitās guarded a terrible forest, and five Gandharva chiefs—Śailūṣa, Grāmaṇī, Śikṣa, Śuka, and Babhrus—dwelt there, radiant as the sun, moon, and fire, and performers of virtuous deeds. At the edge of the earth, these unconquerable beings, who had surpassed even heaven, were established. The monkeys were strictly warned not to venture beyond this point, for the world of the ancestors lay there, exceedingly dreadful. This, he declared, was the city of Yama, shrouded in intense darkness. Only up to this boundary could the heroic leaders of the monkeys search; beyond it, there was no path for any living being. Having seen all these places and whatever else was visible, and having discovered the whereabouts of Vaidehī, Sītā, they were to return. Whoever returned within a month’s time and declared, “Sītā has been seen,” would enjoy pleasures and wealth equal to the leader’s own, and would live in happiness. Thus, with these detailed instructions, the monkeys were sent forth, their hearts filled with hope and determination to find Sītā and bring joy to their beloved lord.