At that time, Rama was utterly devoid of radiance, like the sun eclipsed by a planet. The ornaments that once adorned you, Sita, had been seized by the demon and had fallen to the earth. The leaders of the monkey troops gathered all those garlanded ornaments and brought them to Rama. Joyful, they presented them to him, though none knew the path you had taken; those precious tokens were handed to Rama, and I myself carried them. As the ornaments resounded and lay scattered, Rama's mind was distressed. He placed those beautiful ornaments upon his lap and gazed at them from every angle, lost in thought. With divine radiance granted by the gods, he lamented, gazing at the ornaments, weeping, and suffering again and again. In that moment, the son of Dasharatha kindled the fire of grief within his heart. He lay for a long time, overwhelmed by sorrow, that great soul; and I, Hanuman, with many comforting words, struggled to raise him from his despair. Having seen those precious ornaments, Rama showed them repeatedly, and together with Saumitri, he entrusted them to Sugriva. Because he could not see you, noble lady, Rama was tormented, always burning with a great fire, like a mountain ablaze. For your sake, sleeplessness, grief, and anxiety afflict Rama, the great soul, like flames consuming a house. The sorrow of not seeing you shakes Rama, like a mighty earthquake trembling a great mountain. Roaming through delightful forests and along river springs, he finds no pleasure, for you, O princess, remain unseen. That tiger among men, Rama, will soon reach you, O daughter of Janaka, after slaying Ravana with his friends and kinsmen. Then, Rama and Sugriva made an agreement: together, they would slay Vali and search for you. Afterward, the lord of the monkeys, accompanied by those two heroic princes, approached Kishkindha, and Vali was slain in battle. Rama, swiftly killing Vali in combat, made Sugriva the lord of all the troops of monkeys and bears. Thus, O queen, the alliance of Rama and Sugriva was formed; know me, Hanuman, as the messenger who has come on their behalf. Having regained his own kingdom, Sugriva summoned the great monkeys and sent mighty ones in all ten directions for your sake. Commanded by the powerful king of the monkeys, Sugriva, those who resembled mountains set out in all directions across the earth. Following Sugriva’s command, we and other monkeys, eager to fulfill his words, searched the entire earth. Among us was Angada, the illustrious and mighty son of Vali, a tiger among monkeys, who led a third of the army’s strength. For us, who were lost and overwhelmed by grief, many days and nights passed on the best of mountains, the Vindhya. We despaired of our task as time slipped away, and out of fear of the monkey king, we were ready to give up our lives. Having searched the mountain strongholds and river sources, and finding no trace of you, O queen, we resolved to give up our lives. Then, on the summit of that mountain, we undertook a fast unto death, seeing all the foremost monkeys seated for the same purpose. Immersed in a sea of sorrow, Angada lamented deeply—over your loss, O Vaidehi, and also over the death of his father, Vali. Our resolve was to fast unto death, just as Jatayu had died; for us, hopeless and wishing to die, this was the command of our lord. Then, for the sake of our mission, there came a great and mighty bird, Sampati by name, the heroic king of vultures and brother of the vulture king. Hearing of his brother’s death, he spoke these words in anger: “By whom was my younger brother killed, and where did he fall?” He wished to hear this from us, and Angada told him of the great killing at Janasthana. Hearing of Jatayu’s death at the hands of a fearsome demon, for your sake and exactly as it happened, that son of Aruna was filled with grief. He spoke to you, O lady of beautiful form, as you dwelt in Ravana’s abode; hearing those words brought great joy to Sampati. Then, under Angada’s leadership, we were all sent forth; rising from the Vindhya mountains, we reached the excellent shore of the ocean. Eager for your sight, delighted and strengthened, all the monkeys led by Angada arrived at the edge of the shore. Yet, longing to see you, they again fell into great anxiety. Then I, seeing the monkey army sitting by the ocean, cast aside intense fear and leapt a hundred yojanas. At night, I entered Lanka, crowded with rakshasas. There, I saw Ravana, and I saw you, afflicted by sorrow. O faultless one, all this I have told you exactly as it happened. Speak to me, O lady, for I am the messenger of Dasharatha’s son; it is for you that Rama has made this effort, and I have come here. Know me, O lady, as Sugriva’s minister, the son of the wind; your husband, the best among all wielders of weapons, is safe. Lakshmana, of auspicious marks, is devoted to serving his elder; O lady, he is intent on the welfare of your mighty husband.