With a heart full of longing, Sita began to recount her tale. She spoke of how, when Rama was exiled to the forest, she herself had hurried to follow him, for even the joys of heaven held no pleasure for her if she were separated from him. Yet, before she could set out, the illustrious Saumitri—Lakshmana, the delight of his friends—had already adorned himself with grass and bark and departed to accompany his elder brother. Honoring Rama’s command and steadfast in their vows, Sita and Lakshmana entered the deep, awe-inspiring forest, a place they had never seen before. There, dwelling in the Dandaka forest with the mighty Rama, Sita was suddenly seized by Ravana, the wicked rakshasa. Ravana granted her two months to preserve her life, threatening that after those two months, she would be forced to surrender or perish. At this point, the thirty-fourth chapter of the glorious Valmiki Ramayana, in the Sundara Kanda, begins. Hearing Sita’s sorrowful words, Hanuman, foremost among the monkeys, spoke to comfort her. He said, “O lady, I have come to you as a messenger from Rama. Vaidehi, Rama is well, and he has enquired about your welfare.” Hanuman continued, “He who knows the Brahma weapon and the Vedas, the best among those who know the Vedas, the son of Dasharatha—Rama—has sent his regards to you. And Lakshmana, full of energy and your dear companion, bows his head to you, distressed by your sorrow.” Hearing of the well-being of those two lion-like men, Sita’s limbs were filled with delight, and she spoke to Hanuman. “Truly, this worldly saying is auspicious: ‘The joy of seeing a loved one alive surpasses even a hundred years.’” In this meeting, a wonderful joy arose between them; trusting each other, they engaged in conversation. As Hanuman drew nearer, Sita’s suspicion grew. She feared that he might be Ravana in disguise. “Alas, shame on me for having spoken thus!” she thought. “For, having assumed another form, this must indeed be Ravana.” Worn down by grief, Sita left the branch of the ashoka tree and sat on the ground. The mighty-armed Hanuman bowed to her, but she, terrified, did not look at him again. Seeing him bow, Sita—her face radiant like the moon—spoke in a sweet voice after a deep sigh. “If you are Ravana himself, master of illusion, who has entered a magical form to cause me further distress, it is not right. You once abandoned your own form and appeared as an ascetic in Janasthana. You are indeed that Ravana whom I saw. O night-wanderer, capable of assuming forms at will, you again cause me distress, though I am emaciated by fasting and miserable; this is not proper.” Then, reconsidering, Sita said, “Or perhaps it is not as I have suspected, for my heart has found joy upon seeing you. If you have come as Rama’s messenger, may good fortune be yours. I ask you, O best of monkeys, for the story of Rama is dear to me. Tell me of Rama’s virtues, gentle monkey, for he is dear to me; you draw my heart as the current pulls the riverbank.” She continued, “Ah, how sweet is the happiness of dreams—that I, long taken away, now see one said to be sent by Raghava among the forest-dwellers. Even if in a dream I could see the hero Raghava with Lakshmana, I would not despair; even a dream would be my ally. I do not think this is a dream, for seeing a monkey in a dream does not bring good fortune, yet good fortune has come to me. Could this be a delusion of the mind, or perhaps a vision carried by the wind, or a disorder born of madness, or a mirage? But this is not madness, nor is it a delusion marked by madness; I am aware of myself and of this forest-dweller as well.” Thus, pondering her own strength and weakness in many ways, Sita suspected Hanuman to be the lord of the rakshasas, because of the demons’ power to change form at will. Having formed this thought, Sita, slender-waisted daughter of Janaka, did not reply to the monkey. Understanding Sita’s resolve, Hanuman, son of the Wind, then delighted her with words pleasing to the ear. He described Rama: “Radiant like the sun, beloved by the world like the moon, Rama is king of all people, like the god Vaisravana. In valor he is like the renowned Vishnu; he speaks truth, his words are gentle, like the god of speech. Handsome, charming, and prosperous, like embodied Love himself; when angered, he is a mighty warrior, the best among great charioteers in the world. The world is sheltered by the shade of his mighty arms. It was by luring Rama away from the hermitage in the form of a deer that you were taken in a deserted place. Soon you will see the result of that, for the valiant Rama will slay Ravana in battle. With arrows blazing like fire, released in wrath, he will destroy Ravana. By him I have been sent as a messenger, coming here to you.” Hanuman added, “Having offered his respects, the mighty-armed one asked after your welfare; and Rama’s friend, the monkey named Sugriva, O lady, also sends his greetings.” Thus, Hanuman spoke, bringing comfort and hope to Sita, as the story of her sorrow and Rama’s steadfast love unfolded in the heart of the forest.