As the search for Sita continued, the mighty monkey leaders, each with their counselors and armies, scoured the land in every direction as Sugriva had commanded. First, the eastern region was searched thoroughly, but the leader and his companions returned, having found no trace of Sita. Then, another great monkey ventured into the northern lands with his army, searching every corner, but returned, fearful and empty-handed. Sushena, entrusted with the western quarter, led his band of monkeys to search every nook and cranny, and after a month had passed, he came back to Sugriva. Approaching Sugriva, who sat beside Rama on Prasravana mountain, the searchers respectfully greeted their king and spoke, “O Sugriva, we have searched all the mountains, dense forests, rivers that flow into the sea, and every inhabited region. All the caves you mentioned have been explored, as well as the great thickets covered with creepers. In remote, difficult, and uneven places, we have encountered and slain creatures of immense size; those inaccessible regions have been searched again and again. Yet, we believe Hanuman, born of noble and mighty lineage, will surely discover Maithili. The son of the wind, Hanuman, has gone in the very direction where Sita was taken.” Let us now hear the forty-eighth chapter of the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, in the Kiṣkindhā Kāṇḍa. Hanuman, accompanied by Tara and Angada, swiftly set out for the region Sugriva had designated. Traveling a great distance with all the foremost monkeys, Hanuman searched the caves and dense thickets of the Vindhya mountains. Their search took them across mountain peaks, river fortresses, lakes, groves, and forests, but nowhere did they see Sita, the daughter of Janaka. While searching, these indomitable monkeys survived on roots and various fruits, resting here and there. The region was vast, difficult to traverse, full of caves and dense forests, waterless, deserted, empty, and terrifying. Even after searching such forests, they found themselves in another region, equally vast and hard to search, filled with caves and thick undergrowth. Leaving that place, all the monkey leaders, fearless, entered yet another region, challenging to penetrate. Here, the trees bore fruit in vain, with neither flowers nor leaves; the rivers were dry, and roots were scarce. No buffaloes, deer, elephants, tigers, birds, or any wild creatures could be found. There were no trees, medicinal herbs, creepers, or even grasses—only lotus ponds with blooming lotuses and glossy leaves adorned the ground, beautiful and fragrant yet untouched by bees. Within this desolate land lived a great sage named Kaṇḍu, a truth-speaker rich in ascetic power. This seer, exceedingly strict and unassailable through his vows, had once lost his ten-year-old son in that forest, the child destined to die. Grief-stricken and enraged, the sage cursed the entire forest, rendering it desolate, unapproachable, and devoid of beasts and birds. Thus, the monkeys searched the forest edges and mountain caves there, focusing their minds on the sources of rivers and mountain caves. Yet even in these places, the great souls did not find Janaka’s daughter, nor did they see the abductor, Rāvaṇa, who had acted against Sugriva’s wishes. Venturing into a fearsome place thick with vines and shrubs, the monkeys encountered a terrifying, fearless demon. Upon seeing this demon, towering like a mountain, the monkeys recoiled in fear. The demon, enraged, rushed at them with a raised, clenched fist, declaring, “You are lost!” But Angada, son of Vāli, struck him with his palm, recognizing him as Rāvaṇa. The demon fell to the ground, vomiting blood, like a toppled mountain. With the demon lifeless, the victorious monkeys searched the mountain caves thoroughly. After searching everywhere, the forest dwellers entered another dreadful mountain cave. Exhausted from their efforts, they emerged and gathered together, sitting sadly in solitude at the foot of a tree. Now hear the forty-ninth canto. Angada, wise and weary, gently encouraged all the monkeys and spoke, “We have searched the forests, mountains, rivers, and all the difficult, dense places—the ravines and mountain caves. Everywhere has been thoroughly searched, yet we do not see Janaki, nor the wicked demon who abducted Sita. Much time has passed, and Sugriva is a king of fierce commands. Therefore, all of you together should search in every direction. Cast off drowsiness, sorrow, and the sleep that has come upon us; search for Sita so that we may see the daughter of Janaka. Perseverance, skill, and an undefeated mind bring success in action—thus I speak to you.” With these words, the monkeys readied themselves, determined to continue their search for Sita, guided by hope and unwavering resolve.