Kabandha, the wise and compassionate being, spoke with warmth and clarity to Rama. He described Sugriva, the king of the vanaras, as a figure of immense valor, whose brilliance could not be measured, steadfast in truth, humble, resolute, wise, and noble in character. Sugriva was skilled and bold, radiant in his presence, and endowed with mighty strength and prowess. Yet, despite these virtues, he had been exiled by his own brother, the great-souled Vali, for the sake of the kingdom. Kabandha assured Rama that Sugriva would become his ally and friend in the search for Sita. He urged Rama not to let his heart be troubled by grief, for this alliance was destined to happen—it could not be otherwise. “O tiger among the Ikshvakus,” Kabandha said, “time is difficult to overcome, and what must be, will surely come to pass.” He encouraged Rama to go swiftly to Sugriva, that mighty one, and to make him his friend without delay. Kabandha advised Rama to approach Sugriva for friendship, as fire blazes, and not to disregard the lord of the vanaras. Sugriva, he explained, was grateful, capable of assuming any form, seeking allies, and powerful. Together, Rama and Sugriva would be able to accomplish the task that lay ahead. Kabandha further explained that whether Sugriva succeeded or failed, the son of the king of bears would do Rama’s bidding; this noble being now wandered near Pampā, wary and alert. The son of the Sun, wronged by Vali, dwelt on the mountain Ṛṣyamūka, having set aside his weapons, and was the chief among monkeys. Kabandha urged Rama, “By your truth, make that forest-dwelling monkey your friend. He is the best among monkeys and knows every place in its entirety. In skill, he surpasses even those who eat human flesh; 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. With the monkeys, he will find your wife and send forth mighty-bodied vanaras. They will 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.” Kabandha then invited Rama to listen to the next part of his guidance, the seventy-third sarga of the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Araṇyakāṇḍa. Having shown Rama the way to search for Sita, Kabandha, wise and understanding, spoke again. He pointed out the auspicious path, where blossoming trees stood facing the west, lovely to behold. There grew Jambū, Priyāla, Jackfruit, Banyan, Fig, Tinduka, Peepal, Karnikāra, Mango, and many other trees. There were also Nāga trees, Tilaka, Night-blooming Jasmine, Blue Ashoka, Kadamba, and flowering Oleander. Flaming Ashoka trees and deeply red Paribhadraka trees adorned the path. Kabandha suggested that Rama and Lakshmana could climb these trees or shake them forcefully to the ground to eat their nectar-like fruits before continuing onward. Beyond this, Kabandha described another forest, filled with blossoming trees, resembling the northern Kurava groves and the heavenly Nandana itself. There, as in the Caitraratha grove, all seasons seemed to be present. Trees heavy with fruit and bearing great canopies shone everywhere. Trees resembling rain clouds and mountains stood throughout the forest; Rama and Lakshmana could climb them or shake them to the ground for fruits. Lakshmana would offer Rama fruits that tasted like nectar as they wandered from mountain to mountain and forest to forest. Kabandha explained that, after this journey, they would reach the lotus pond called Pampā, which was free from gravel, undisturbed, level, and without reeds. Its sand was newly formed and it was adorned with lotuses and water lilies. Swans, diving birds, cranes, and curlews lived there, singing melodiously in the waters of Pampā. These birds, innocent and auspicious, did not fear humans. Kabandha told Rama that he could eat these birds, large and resembling balls of clarified butter—red ones, those with curved beaks, and also reed-dwelling fish. There, Rama would eat excellent fish from Pampā, freshly caught, without skin or fins, roasted, lean, and with a single spine. Lakshmana, filled with devotion, would serve these fish to Rama, as he ate them amidst flowers gathered from Pampā. Lakshmana would also draw water from Pampā for Rama, fragrant with lotuses, auspicious, pleasantly cool, pure, and clear like silver or crystal. He would give Rama water with a lotus leaf and offer large, mountain-cave dwelling monkeys, wanderers of the forest. In the evening, as they wandered, Lakshmana would show Rama those creatures who had turned away from the water out of greed, bellowing like bulls. Rama would see large yellow ones in Pampā and, as they wandered in the evening, trees adorned with garlands. Seeing the auspicious water in Pampā, Rama would let go of his sorrow. There, the trees were adorned with flowers—tilaka and night jasmine, blooming lotuses, and water lilies. No man had placed those garlands there, nor did they wither or fall. Kabandha revealed that the disciples of Mataṅga, the sages, were present there, deeply absorbed in their practice. Those who, burdened by carrying forest produce for their teacher, had quickly dropped beads of sweat onto the earth, had sanctified the place. In this sacred landscape, Rama would find solace and strength for the journey ahead.