Jāmbavān, the wise and venerable bear, addressed Angada with earnest words: “You, O subduer of enemies, are the key to the fulfillment of this great task. Steadfast in truth and valor, endowed with wisdom and courage, you stand here as the chief cause of our mission’s success. You are not only our elder, but also the son of our elder, O best among monkeys. It is upon you that we all depend, and by your strength, we hope to accomplish our purpose.” Hearing Jāmbavān’s words, Angada, the mighty son of Vāli, replied thoughtfully: “If neither I nor any other foremost monkey can go, then for us, the only path left is to undertake a fast unto death. For if we fail to carry out the command of Sugrīva, the wise lord of the monkeys, I see no way for us to preserve our lives, even if we return. Whether pleased or angered, Sugrīva is supreme—if his order is disregarded, destruction will surely follow. Thus, for this mission, there is truly no other way. Therefore, you alone, who understand the matter so well, must consider what is to be done.” In response, Jāmbavān, the heroic and wise leader among the monkeys, spoke again to Angada: “For this task, O hero, nothing at all should be neglected. I will now encourage the one who can accomplish it.” Then, in a secluded spot, Jāmbavān approached Hanuman, the mightiest among the monkey warriors, and began to speak words of encouragement. Thus begins the sixty-sixth chapter in the glorious Rāmāyaṇa of Vālmīki, in the Kiṣkindhā Kāṇḍa. Seeing the vast monkey army, numbering in the hundreds of thousands, overcome with despair, Jāmbavān turned to Hanuman and spoke: “O hero, best among those who know all the sciences in the world of monkeys, why do you sit silent and withdrawn, apart from the others? Hanuman, you are indeed equal to Sugrīva in prowess and, in brilliance and strength, you are the peer of Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa themselves. “Consider Garuḍa, the son of Ariṣṭanemi, famed as the mightiest among all birds for his great strength. I have seen that powerful bird at the ocean, lifting up serpents with ease—he is truly powerful. Yet, the strength in his wings is matched by the power in your arms, O Hanuman; your courage and speed are in no way less than his. Among all beings, your strength, intellect, brilliance, and spirit surpass all—why then do you not rise to the task before us? “Let me remind you of your noble lineage. Among the Apsarases, Puñjikathalā was renowned as the best. She, known as Añjanā, became the wife of Kesari, the monkey. Famed in the three worlds for her incomparable beauty, she was, by a curse, born as a monkey, though she could assume any form at will. Añjanā was the daughter of the great-souled monkey king Kuñjara, and, taking on a human form, she shone with beauty and youth, adorned with wondrous garlands and ornaments, sometimes wearing fine cloth, wandering the mountain peaks, radiant as a rain cloud. “One day, as she stood on a mountain, her beautiful yellow garment, marked with red, was gently carried away by the wind. The Wind-god beheld her—her well-shaped form, her lovely face and limbs—and, overcome by desire, embraced her blameless form with his long arms. Startled, Añjanā cried out, ‘Who wishes to destroy my vow of fidelity to my husband?’ The Wind-god replied, ‘Do not fear, O fair-hipped one. I have not harmed you. By my mind alone I approached and embraced you. Your son will be endowed with strength and intelligence. He will possess great spirit, brilliance, immense strength and valor; in leaping and flying, he will be equal to me.’ “Thus comforted, your mother was pleased, O mighty Hanuman, and in the cave, she gave birth to you, strong-armed bull among the Vanaras. “As a child, you saw the sun rise in the great forest, and, desiring to seize it as if it were a fruit, you leapt into the sky. Driven by your boundless energy, you traversed three hundred yojanas without despair. As you soared, Indra, filled with anger and radiance, hurled his thunderbolt at you. Struck, your left jaw was broken upon a mountain peak, and from that day you became known as Hanuman. “When you fell, the Wind-god, your father, was enraged and ceased to blow throughout the three worlds. The gods were disturbed and sought to appease the Wind-god. When he was pacified, Brahmā granted you a boon: ‘O truly valiant one, in battle you shall not be slain by weapons.’ Indra, seeing you unharmed by his own thunderbolt, was pleased and granted you another supreme boon: ‘Your death shall come only at your own will, O lord.’ “You are the son of Kesari, born in the field, of terrible valor. Remember your strength, your birth, your boons, and your purpose. Rise, Hanuman, and fulfill this great task before us.