The Search for Sita Begins

Sugriva gathered the whole army and formed four parties. He described the geography of the entire earth as if he saw it on his palm, for in his flight from Vali he had run through every land.

To the east he sent Vinata, to the west Sushena, Tara's father, and to the north Shatabali. To each party he named the rivers, mountains, cities and forests they would pass.

He gave the most care to the south, because Ravana had gone that way. He made the crown prince Angada its leader and put his best warriors in it: Hanuman, the aged king of the bears Jambavan, Nila and others. To all of them he said, "Return within one month. Whoever comes and says 'I have seen Sita' will share my own good fortune. Whoever takes more than a month will be put to death."

The ring

Then Sugriva turned to Hanuman. "Hanuman, on earth, in the sky or in water, nothing checks your movement. Strength, intelligence, a sense of place and time, and good judgment are all in you. It is on you that I rely most."

Ram heard this, and he too felt that the task would be done by this one. He took off the ring engraved with his name and gave it to Hanuman. "Seeing this, Janaki will know you come from me, and she will not be afraid. Your resolve and Sugriva's trust tell me you will succeed."

Hanuman touched the ring to his head, touched Ram's feet and set out.

One month

The parties from the east, west and north returned within the month, empty-handed. All hope now rested on the south.

Angada's party searched the forests, caves and valleys of the Vindhya range. The days went by. In one place they found a forest so parched that it had neither leaf nor water. Hunger and thirst began to wear them down.

Then they saw geese and cranes coming out of the mouth of a cave with wet wings. Hanuman said, "There must be water inside." Holding one another's hands, they went down into the dark. After a long way there was suddenly light. Before them stood trees of gold, mansions of gems, clear ponds and heaps of fruit. An ascetic woman named Swayamprabha sat there.

She gave them food and water. When the vanaras told their story, she said, "No one who enters this cave leaves it alive. But you are on Ram's errand. Close your eyes." When they opened them, they were standing on the seashore.

Despair

But spring had come. In the enchantment of the cave their whole month had passed.

Angada sat down on the ground. "The time is gone and Sita is not found. Sugriva's punishment is severe, and I am Vali's son; he has little love for me as it is. Better to give up food and water and die here than to go back to Kishkindha to die."

Hanuman reasoned with him. "Angada, Sugriva is a just man and looks on you as a son. And consider: in which cave would Lakshmana's arrows not find you?" But Angada's spirit was broken. He spread kusha grass and sat facing south. One by one all the vanaras sat down beside him.

They began to tell one another the story of Ram: the exile, the abduction of Sita, and the vulture king Jatayu, who gave his life fighting Ravana for her sake.

On a nearby rock sat a very old vulture. He had no wings. At the name Jatayu he raised his head.