The monstrous being, Kabandha, his voice now gentle, addressed Rama, the scion of Raghu, with words full of humility and truth. “O Raghava, skilled as I am in speech, I must confess: I possess no divine knowledge, nor do I know anything of Maithilī, your Sita. But when I am burned and regain my true form, then I shall reveal to you who among the rakshasas knows of her. I will tell you, Rama, of that demon who holds the knowledge you seek. While I remain unburned, I lack the power to know, O lord. But the mighty rakshasa who seized your Sita—that one’s whereabouts I shall reveal. My great wisdom was lost to me through a curse, O Raghava; by my own actions, I have come to possess this form, so despised by the world. Therefore, before the weary sun sets, cast me into a pit and burn me, Rama, as is proper. Burned by you in the pit according to justice, O descendant of Raghu, I shall then tell you of the mighty hero who will find that rakshasa. You must make friendship with him, O Raghava, for he is righteous; O hero, he will devise swift aid for you. Nothing is hidden from him in all the three worlds, O Raghava; surrounded by all beings, he once wandered for another reason.” Thus Kabandha spoke. When his words ended, Rama and Lakshmana, lords among men, approached the cleft in the mountain and prepared the funeral pyre. Lakshmana set the pyre ablaze with burning firebrands, and soon the flames leapt high, consuming all around them. The vast body of Kabandha, like a mass of clarified butter, slowly melted as the fire devoured the fat. Then, shaking off the pyre with great swiftness, Kabandha rose up, now radiant and free from smoke, clad in dustless, spotless garments and adorned with a divine garland. His form shone with immense strength. In that moment, he leapt from the fire, his body resplendent, delighted, and adorned with ornaments on every limb. He stood in a magnificent aerial chariot yoked with swans, his brilliance illuminating all ten directions. From the sky, Kabandha spoke to Rama: “Listen, Raghava, I shall truly tell you how you will recover Sita. In this world, there are six means by which all things are considered; and after being examined by the tenth part, it is served by the tenth portion. You, Rama, together with Lakshmana, have reached that tenth portion and are found wanting; thus, you have suffered misfortune and the outrage against your wife. Therefore, you must certainly act, O best of friends; without action, I do not see you attaining success, no matter how I reflect. Hear me, Rama: Sugriva is the name of a vanara, cast out by his brother, the wrathful Vali, son of Indra. He dwells, self-controlled and heroic, with four vanaras on the noble mountain Rishyamuka, shining near the borders of Lake Pampa. That king of the vanaras is of great valor, immeasurable brilliance, steadfast in truth, humble, resolute, wise, and noble. Skilled, bold, radiant, and possessing mighty strength and prowess, he was exiled by his brother, the great-souled Vali, for the sake of the kingdom. He will be your ally and friend in the search for Sita. Surely, Rama, do not let grief trouble your mind. This must indeed come to pass; it cannot be otherwise, O tiger among Ikshvakus, for time is difficult to overcome. Go swiftly from here, O hero, to Sugriva, that mighty one. Make him your friend quickly, Raghava, by going today. Approach him for friendship, as the fire blazes; do not disregard Sugriva, lord of the vanaras. He is grateful, able to assume any form, seeking allies, and powerful. Today, you both are capable of accomplishing the task he desires. Whether he succeeds or fails, the son of the king of bears will do your bidding; he now wanders near Pampa, wary and alert. The son of the Sun, wronged by Vali, now dwells on Rishyamuka, having set aside his weapons; he is a monkey chief. O Raghava, by your truth, make that forest-dwelling monkey your friend, for he, the best among monkeys, knows every place in its entirety. In this world, he surpasses even those who eat human flesh in skill; O Raghava, there is nothing in the world unknown to him. As long as the thousand-rayed Sun blazes, he will search the rivers, vast mountains, mountain-fortresses, and caves. Together with the monkeys, he will find your wife; and, O Raghava, he will send forth mighty-bodied monkeys. He will dispatch them to search all directions for Sita, grieving in your absence, and will seek the noble Maithilī in Ravana’s abode. Even if your blameless beloved is atop Mount Meru or hidden in the depths of the underworld, the bull among monkeys will slay the demons and restore her to you.” Having shown Rama the way to search for Sita, the wise Kabandha, understanding the matter, spoke again: “O Rama, this is the auspicious path. Here, you will see these blossoming trees, lovely to behold, standing facing the west. Jambu, Priyala, Jackfruit, Banyan, Fig, Tinduka, Peepal, Karnikara, Mango, and many other trees grow here.” Thus, Kabandha, freed from his curse and radiant in his true form, guided Rama and Lakshmana toward hope, pointing them onward on their quest to find Sita.