To assure Raghava of his strength, Sugriva showed him the mighty body of Dundubhi, which resembled a great mountain. Rama, the hero with powerful arms, smiled gently as he looked upon it. Then, with just the tip of his big toe, he cast the enormous corpse a full ten yojanas away. To further inspire confidence, Rama took up a single great arrow and, in one motion, split seven sala trees, a mountain, and even pierced the underworld. Satisfied and trusting Rama’s power, the great vanara Sugriva joyfully accompanied Rama to the cave of Kishkindha. There, Sugriva, golden-hued and the best among monkeys, let out a thunderous roar. At that tremendous sound, Vali, the lord of monkeys, emerged from his dwelling. Having taken counsel with the wise Tara, Vali confronted Sugriva, and in that moment, Rama struck down Vali with a single arrow. At Sugriva’s request, after slaying Vali in battle, Rama restored Sugriva to his rightful kingdom. The foremost of vanaras then gathered all the monkeys and sent them in all directions, eager to search for 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. Upon reaching the city of Lanka, ruled by Ravana, Hanuman found Sita, lost in deep thought, in the Ashoka grove. He gave her Rama’s token of recognition and shared the news of Rama’s search, comforting Vaidehi. Then, Hanuman crushed the gateway of Lanka, slew five commanders and seven sons of ministers, and vanquished the valiant Aksha. At last, he was captured by the rakshasas. Knowing himself protected by the boon of his grandfather, Hanuman calmly endured being bound, as fate would have it. Soon after, Hanuman set Lanka ablaze, sparing only Maithili Sita, and returned to Rama to deliver the good news. He approached the great-souled Rama, circled him in reverence, and faithfully reported, “Sita has been seen.” Together with Sugriva, Rama journeyed to the shore of the great ocean and, with arrows shining like the sun, agitated the sea. The lord of rivers, the ocean himself, appeared and, at his word, Nala constructed a bridge. By that bridge, Rama and his allies reached the city of Lanka, where they slew Ravana in battle. Rama, having regained Sita, was overcome with deep shame. In the assembly of people, Rama spoke harshly to Sita, and unable to bear it, she entered the fire, remaining true to herself. By the testimony of fire, Sita was shown to be free from sin, and with this great deed, the three worlds and all beings were satisfied. The hosts of gods and sages rejoiced at the righteousness of the great-souled Raghava. Rama then anointed Vibhishana as king of the rakshasas in Lanka. With his task accomplished and freed from sorrow, Rama rejoiced. Granted a boon by the gods, he revived the monkeys and set out for Ayodhya, surrounded by his friends in the Pushpaka chariot. Arriving at Bharadvaja’s hermitage, Rama, ever steadfast in truth, sent Hanuman ahead to Bharat. Then, after conversing again with Sugriva, Rama boarded the Pushpaka and traveled to Nandigrama. There, shedding his matted hair, Rama, now pure, was reunited with Sita and his brothers, and he reclaimed his kingdom. The people of Ayodhya rejoiced, living in delight and prosperity. They were content, righteous, free from disease and illness, and untroubled by famine. No parent would ever witness the death of a son, and women would remain ever devoted to their husbands, never becoming widows. There was no fear from fire, wind, or water, nor from fever or hunger; thieves were unknown, and cities and kingdoms overflowed with wealth and grain. All lived joyfully, as in the age of truth. Rama performed hundreds of horse sacrifices and gave away vast amounts of gold. He gifted tens of millions of cows to the learned, according to the proper rites, and immeasurable wealth to the Brahmins. The illustrious Raghava established royal lineages a hundredfold, setting the four classes firmly in their own duties. After ruling for ten thousand and ten hundred years, Rama departed for 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. One who recites this life-giving Ramayana is honored in heaven after death, together with his sons, grandsons, and companions. By reciting it, a Brahmin attains eloquence, a Kshatriya gains lordship over the earth, a merchant finds success in trade, and even a Shudra attains greatness. Thus ends the account, and now begins the second chapter in the glorious Valmiki Ramayana, the Balakanda, to be heard. Hearing the words of Narada, the virtuous Valmiki, skilled in speech, honored the great sage together with his disciples. After a moment, when Narada had departed for the world of the gods, Valmiki went to the bank of the Tamasā, not far from the Jahnavī.