Having found a place to rest, I reflected deeply on my mission, yet my mind could find no peace. My thoughts circled around how I might speak with Janaki, the noble Sita. Gathering my resolve, I praised the illustrious lineage of Ikshvaku, extolling its virtues as taught by the royal sages. As my words, adorned with the wisdom of kings, reached her ears, the lady Sita, her eyes brimming with tears, spoke to me. She said, “Who are you? By whom, and how, have you come here, O foremost of monkeys? And what affection do you have for Rama? This you must tell me.” Hearing her gentle yet anxious inquiry, I replied with honesty and reverence. “O lady,” I said, “your husband Rama has a mighty and valorous ally named Sugriva, the powerful king of the monkeys. Know me to be his servant, Hanuman, who has come here, sent to you by your blameless husband Rama.” To reassure her further, I presented a token—a sign of recognition given to me by Rama himself, the glorious son of Dasharatha, the tiger among men. “This,” I said, “is proof of his love and message for you. Command me, O illustrious one—shall I bring you at once to the side of Rama and Lakshmana? What is your wish?” Upon hearing and understanding my words, Sita, the daughter of Janaka, replied with clarity and resolve, “Let Raghava himself uproot Ravana and take me away.” Bowing my head to this noble and blameless lady, I humbly requested a token from her that would gladden Rama’s heart. Sita then said, “Take this excellent jewel, by which the strong-armed Rama holds you in high regard.” With these words, the noble lady, greatly agitated, entrusted me with her precious jewel and her message. I bowed to her with devotion, circumambulated her in respect, and prepared to depart, my mind intent on returning to Rama. Yet, as I turned to go, Sita, having resolved in her heart, called out to me again, “Hanuman, you must tell my story to Raghava. Speak so that, upon hearing it, Rama and Lakshmana, together with Sugriva, may come quickly. If otherwise it should be, know that for only two months my life remains; if Kakutstha does not see me, I shall die, abandoned and unprotected.” Hearing these pitiful words, anger welled up within me. I considered what further action I might take in this dire situation. My body grew immense, resembling a mountain, as I was seized by a desire for battle. With mighty force, I began to destroy the forest of Ravana. The demonesses, with terrifying faces, beheld the forest broken and scattered, the deer and birds frightened and confused. Seeing me there amidst the devastation, they quickly gathered and went at once to inform Ravana. “O King,” they cried, “your difficult and fortified forest has been destroyed by a wicked monkey, ignorant of your great strength. Because of his evil intent and actions displeasing to you, quickly order his death so that he may not return again.” Hearing their report, the king of the demons sent forth the formidable Kinkaras, his loyal warriors. Eighty thousand of these demons, armed with spears and maces, I struck down with my iron club in that part of the forest. Those who survived, swift in action, ran to Ravana and reported that his army had been destroyed by me. Then, an idea arose in my mind to attack the great temple tower. There, I killed a hundred demons stationed as guards, wielding a pillar as my weapon. In my anger, I destroyed that which was the ornament of Lanka. Enraged, Ravana ordered Jambumali, the son of Prahasta, to face me. Jambumali, accompanied by many demons of dreadful and terrifying form, came forth as a mighty and skilled warrior. Yet, with my fierce iron club, I slew him and his followers. Hearing of their fall, Ravana sent the mighty sons of his ministers, strong and well-equipped with infantry. With my club, I sent them all to the abode of Yama. Learning that his ministers’ sons, swift in battle, had also been slain, Ravana dispatched five heroic commanders of his army. I destroyed them all together with their forces. Then, once more, the ten-headed Ravana sent his mighty son Aksha into battle, accompanied by many demons. Aksha, the son of Mandodari, skilled in warfare, rose swiftly into the sky. But I seized him by the feet, whirled him a hundred times, and dashed him down, ending his life. When Ravana heard that Aksha had been slain, his rage knew no bounds. He sent forth his second son, Indrajit, powerful and proud in battle. I faced Indrajit and his entire force. Though he fought fiercely and found joy in the contest, he realized that I was unconquerable and that his own army had been crushed. Then, Indrajit, sent by Ravana and accompanied by warriors intoxicated with pride, invoked the weapon of Brahma. Swift as the wind, it bound me, and the rakshasas tied me with ropes. Thus bound, they brought me before Ravana. Seeing me, the wicked Ravana spoke to me, his eyes blazing with anger and curiosity.