Sugriva gently spread a leafy branch and sat down beside Rama, seeking comfort and companionship. Hanuman, the son of the wind, his heart light with joy, brought Lakshmana a richly blossomed sandalwood branch. Sugriva, delighted by this gathering, spoke softly and sweetly to Rama. With eyes shining from the depths of his happiness, Sugriva addressed Rama, revealing his troubles: “I have been wronged, Rama, and wander here, afflicted by fear. My wife has been taken from me, and I live terrified in this forest, seeking refuge in this difficult place. Thus, fearful and anxious, I dwell here.” Sugriva continued, “I have been wronged by my brother Vali and am at enmity with him, O Rama. O illustrious one, grant me safety from Vali, for I am tormented by fear. Please act, O descendant of Kakutstha, so that I may no longer have reason to be afraid.” Hearing Sugriva’s plea, the radiant, righteous, and compassionate Rama replied, his face brightened as if with a smile: “I know well, great monkey, that a friend is one who gives the fruit of help. I will slay that Vali, who took your wife; these sharp arrows of mine, shining like the sun, never fail. Upon that evil-minded Vali will fall swiftly these arrows, covered with vulture feathers, resembling Indra’s thunderbolt. With keen points and straight shafts, furious like serpents, today you will see Vali struck down by arrows sharp as deadly snakes. Pierced by arrows, Vali will lie on the ground, scattered like a mountain.” Hearing these words of Raghava, which promised his own welfare, Sugriva was overjoyed. He spoke with gratitude: “By your grace, O lion among men, O hero, may I regain both my beloved and my kingdom. Do so, O king of men, to my enemy, so that he may never again harm my elder brother.” In this moment, as the bond of friendship between Sugriva and Rama was sealed, Sita, the lord of monkeys, and the night-roaming demons—all whose eyes were beautiful as lotuses, gold, or fire—seemed to twitch together in anticipation. Now begins the sixth sarga in the glorious Valmiki Ramayana, in the Kishkindha Kanda. Once again, Sugriva, pleased, spoke to Raghava, the joy of the Raghu line: “This chief among counselors, Hanuman, will tell you, Rama. Hanuman knows the reason you have come to this lonely forest, dwelling here with your brother Lakshmana. Your wife, Maithili, daughter of Janaka, was carried off by a demon; separated from you, she wept, along with wise Lakshmana. Seeking an opportunity, that demon killed the vulture Jatayu; because of your wife’s abduction, you have been brought to this sorrow.” Sugriva assured Rama, “You will soon be freed from the grief caused by your wife’s separation; I will bring back the lost one, as one retrieves the Veda that was lost. Know this, Raghava, my words are true; she cannot be worn down, not even by Indra and the gods or demons together. Your wife, mighty-armed one, is like food mixed with poison—untouchable; give up your sorrow, great-armed one, I will bring your beloved to you. From inference I know without doubt that she is Maithili; I saw her being carried away by that demon of cruel deeds. She cried out loudly, ‘Rama! Rama!’ and ‘Lakshmana!’ as she struggled in Ravana’s lap, like the wife of the serpent king. When she saw me, standing on the mountain slope, she threw down her upper garment and her auspicious ornaments. O Raghava, those ornaments were taken and kept by us; I will bring them here, you should recognize them.” Rama, hearing Sugriva’s kind words, spoke urgently: “Bring them quickly, friend, why are you delaying?” Thus addressed, Sugriva swiftly entered the deep cave of the mountain, eager to please Raghava. He took the upper garment and the ornaments and showed them to Rama, saying, “See, these.” Rama took the garment and the beautiful ornaments, but was choked with tears, like the moon veiled by mist. Overcome by emotion arising from his love for Sita, he cried out, “Alas, my beloved!” losing his composure and falling to the ground. Holding those excellent ornaments to his heart again and again, he sighed deeply, like an enraged serpent in its hole. With an unbroken flow of tears, Rama, seeing Saumitri by his side, began to lament in distress. “Look, Lakshmana, this upper garment and these ornaments, cast on the ground by Vaidehi as she was carried away. Surely, this ornament was dropped by Sita as she was being taken, on the grassy earth; for its form appears so.” Thus addressed by Rama, Lakshmana replied, “I do not recognize the armlets, nor do I know the earrings. But I do recognize the anklets, from always bowing at her feet.” Then Raghava spoke to Sugriva, “Tell me, Sugriva, in which region did you see my beloved, who was seized by a demon of terrible form? Where does that demon dwell, who has brought me great suffering? Because of him, I will destroy all the Rakshasas. By carrying off Maithili and enraging me, he has surely opened the door to his own death. My dearest one was taken from the forest by that night-wandering demon, who tormented her; tell me today, O lord of monkeys, who that enemy is, whom I will send to the presence of Yama.