Kishkindha Kanda: Friendship with Sugriva

The story

Near Lake Pampa, the vanara prince Sugriva, hiding on Mount Rishyamuka from his brother Vali, sees two armed strangers and sends his minister Hanuman to find out who they are. Hanuman approaches as a Brahmin and speaks so well that Ram tells Lakshmana no one could speak like this without mastering the Vedas. It is the first meeting of the Lord and his greatest devotee.

Hanuman brings Ram and Sugriva together, and they swear friendship before a fire. Each has lost a wife and a kingdom. Sugriva shows the ornaments Sita dropped as she was carried through the sky. Ram promises to restore Sugriva; Sugriva promises to find Sita.

Vali, who had driven out his brother and taken his wife, is slain by Ram. As he dies he questions Ram, is answered, and entrusts his son Angada to Sugriva's care. Sugriva is crowned, and then the rains come. Four months pass. Sugriva, lost in comfort, forgets his word, until Lakshmana arrives in anger and Tara calms him.

Search parties go out in four directions. The southern party under Angada, with Hanuman and the wise old bear Jambavan, reaches the ocean with no news and loses heart. The vulture Sampati, brother of Jatayu, tells them Sita is in Lanka, a hundred yojanas across the sea. Who can leap that far? Jambavan turns to Hanuman, who sits silent, and reminds him of the strength he has forgotten.

The turning points

• Two people in trouble help each other instead of waiting to be rescued.
• A promise forgotten in comfort, and a friend honest enough to remind.
• Jambavan's reminder: Hanuman had the power all along and did not know it.

What it teaches

Friendship in the Ramayana is a pact of mutual duty, not a matter of convenience. Read True friendship. And every reader has been Hanuman on that seashore: capable, and doubting. Often what we need is not new strength but someone to remind us of the strength we have.

The leap itself is the subject of the Sundara Kanda.