Delighted by the message from her beloved husband, the modest Sita, her heart now satisfied and her wish fulfilled, turned to Hanuman and praised him with gratitude. “You are valiant, capable, and wise, O best among monkeys,” she said, “for you alone have dared to challenge this domain of the rakshasas. The vast ocean, a hundred yojanas wide and home to crocodiles, was reduced to the size of a cow’s hoofprint by your remarkable courage in crossing it. Surely, you are not an ordinary monkey, O chief among monkeys, for you show no fear, not even of Ravana himself. “You deserve to be spoken to by me, O noble monkey, if Rama, who knows himself deeply, has sent you. Rama, unconquerable in battle, would never send anyone to me without first knowing their true prowess, especially to my presence. By good fortune, Rama is safe, righteous, and steadfast in truth; and Lakshmana, full of energy and a joy to Sumitra, is likewise secure. “If Kakutstha is indeed unharmed, why does he not, in his wrath, burn the earth surrounded by the ocean, as fire does at the end of the age? Perhaps those two are powerful enough to subdue even the gods, yet I fear there is no reversal for my sorrows. I hope Rama does not suffer or grieve, and that the best of men continues to fulfill his duties. I hope he is not dejected or confused, nor loses his composure in action; may the king’s son act as befits a true man. “I hope the enemy-subduer, eager for victory and loyal to his allies, uses both kinds and all threefold strategies in his undertakings. I hope he gains friends, and is approached even by foes; may he be honored by his friends and by a virtuous companion. I hope the prince seeks the favor of the gods, relying both on human effort and destiny. I hope Raghava has not lost his affection for me because of my exile, and that he will rescue me from this calamity. “Accustomed always to happiness and unaccustomed to suffering, I hope Rama does not lose heart when faced with adversity. May good news often be heard of Kausalya, likewise of Sumitra, and also of Bharata. Because of me, I hope the honorable Raghava is not distracted by grief; may his mind not wander elsewhere, and may he save me. “I hope Bharata, devoted to his brother, will send a mighty army, guarded by wise counselors, for my sake. I hope the illustrious king of the monkeys, Sugriva, will come for me, surrounded by heroic monkeys armed with teeth and claws. I hope the heroic Lakshmana, who brings joy to Sumitra, will destroy the rakshasas with a shower of weapons. I hope I will soon see Ravana and his allies slain in battle by Rama’s fierce weapon. “I hope that face of Rama, golden in hue and lotus-fragrant, will not wither in sorrow because of me, like a lotus dries up in the sun when the water is gone. When, for the sake of righteousness, he gave up his kingdom and led me, a woman on foot, into the forest, he felt neither fear nor sorrow; I hope he now finds courage in his heart. He has no mother, no father, nor anyone else dearer to him than me, or even equal; I wish to live only as long as I hear news of my beloved.” Having spoken these heartfelt words to Hanuman, the queen paused, her sweet purpose expressed, eager once more to hear his comforting words full of Rama’s intent. Hanuman, mighty in valor, listened to Sita’s words and, placing his joined palms upon his head, replied with reverence. “Rama, lotus-eyed, does not know you are here; that is why he has not yet swiftly brought you back, as Indra would bring Shachi. As soon as he hears my words, Raghava will come quickly, leading a great army with hosts of monkeys and bears. Having blocked the unshakable abode of Varuna with torrents of arrows, Kakutstha will make Lanka devoid of demons. If death itself, or the gods, or the great asuras stand in Rama’s path, he will slay them as well. “Noble lady, filled with grief from not seeing you, Rama finds no peace, like an elephant tormented by a lion. By Mandara, by your roots and fruits, by Malaya, by Vindhya, by Meru, and by Dardura, O Devi, I swear—You will see Rama’s face, with beautiful eyes, charming lips like bimba fruit, and lovely earrings, shining like the full moon. “Soon, O Vaidehi, you will see Rama on Mount Prasravana, seated like Indra upon the summit of a great serpent. Raghava does not eat meat, nor does he drink wine; he always eats only the pure forest fare, his fifth portion, as food. He does not drive away flies, mosquitoes, insects, or reptiles from his body, for his inner self is absorbed in you. “Rama is always devoted to meditation, always absorbed in sorrow; he thinks of nothing else, for he is overcome by longing. Rama, best of men, is ever sleepless; even when he sleeps, he awakens uttering your sweet name, ‘Sita.’ Whenever he sees a fruit or flower, or anything delightful to women, he often sighs, ‘Alas, my beloved,’ and speaks to you.” Thus, in this exchange of hope and devotion, Sita and Hanuman comforted each other, their hearts united in faith and longing for Rama’s triumph and reunion.