Through the guidance of Hanuman, Rama met Sugriva, and the mighty prince shared with Sugriva all that had transpired. From the very beginning, Rama recounted his story, dwelling especially on the sorrow of Sita’s abduction. Sugriva, the vanara king, listened intently to Rama’s tale. Their friendship was joyfully sealed, with fire as the witness, and at Sugriva’s request, he revealed the story of his enmity—his troubles and grief—fully to Rama. Sugriva spoke with sorrow and affection, and Rama promised to slay Vali, Sugriva’s powerful adversary. Sugriva described Vali’s immense strength, but he doubted Rama’s own prowess. To reassure Sugriva, Rama was shown the mighty body of Dundubhi, who resembled a great mountain. Smiling, Rama touched it with his big toe and flung it ten yojanas away. Then, with a single arrow, Rama split seven sala trees, a mountain, and even pierced the underworld, inspiring Sugriva’s confidence. Pleased and trusting, Sugriva went with Rama to the cave of Kishkindha. There, the golden-hued Sugriva, the best of monkeys, roared mightily, and at that sound, the lord of monkeys, Vali, emerged. After taking counsel with Tara, Vali confronted Sugriva, and Rama struck Vali down with a single arrow. At Sugriva’s request, Rama restored him to the kingdom after Vali’s defeat. Sugriva, now king, gathered all the foremost vanaras and sent them in every direction, eager to find Janaka’s daughter, Sita. Guided by the words of the vulture Sampati, the mighty Hanuman leapt across the vast salt ocean, a hundred yojanas wide. Reaching the city of Lanka, ruled by Ravana, Hanuman found Sita, lost in thought, within the Ashoka grove. Hanuman conveyed Rama’s token of recognition and brought news to Sita, comforting her and then crushing the gateway of Lanka. He slew five commanders, seven sons of ministers, and defeated the valiant Aksha, but was finally captured. Knowing himself protected by his grandfather’s boon, Hanuman endured the rakshasas who bound him, as fate decreed. Hanuman then burned the city of Lanka, sparing only Maithili Sita, and returned to Rama with the good news. He approached the great-souled Rama, circled him in reverence, and faithfully reported, “Sita has been seen.” Together with Sugriva, Rama went to the shore of the great ocean and, with arrows shining like the sun, agitated the sea. The lord of rivers, the ocean, revealed himself, and at his word, Nala constructed a bridge. By that bridge, Rama and his allies reached Lanka, slew Ravana in battle, and Rama, having regained Sita, was overcome with deep shame. In the assembly of people, Rama spoke harshly to Sita, and unable to bear it, Sita entered the fire, remaining steadfast and true. By the testimony of fire, Sita was revealed to be free from sin, and with this great deed, the three worlds and all beings were satisfied. The hosts of gods and sages were pleased with the great-souled Raghava. Rama anointed Vibhishana king of the rakshasas in Lanka, and, his task accomplished and free from sorrow, rejoiced. Receiving a boon from the gods and reviving the monkeys, Rama set out for Ayodhya, surrounded by friends, in the Pushpaka chariot. Arriving at Bharadvaja’s hermitage, Rama, steadfast in truth, sent Hanuman to Bharat’s presence. After conversing again with Sugriva, Rama boarded the Pushpaka and went to Nandigrama. There, shedding his matted hair, Rama, pure, together with his brothers, regained Sita and reclaimed the kingdom. The people were joyful and delighted—content, prosperous, righteous, free from disease and illness, and without fear of famine. No one would ever witness the death of a son; women would always remain devoted to their husbands, never becoming widows. There would be no fear from fire, nor would creatures drown in water; no fear from wind, nor from fever. There would be no fear of hunger, nor of thieves; cities and kingdoms would be filled with wealth and grain. All would always be joyful, as in the age of truth. Rama performed hundreds of horse sacrifices and gave much gold. He gifted tens of millions of cows to the learned according to proper rites, and immeasurable wealth to the Brahmins. Raghava would establish royal lineages a hundredfold greater and set the four classes in the world to their own duties. After ruling for ten thousand and ten hundred years, Rama would depart to the world of Brahma. This sacred, sin-destroying, meritorious account, approved by the Vedas—whoever recites the story of Rama is freed from all sins.