From the sacred slopes of Rushyamuka, Hanuman set forth to Mount Malaya, bearing tidings of great import. Standing before the wise and mighty king, he recounted the most stirring moments of his encounter with Rama.
“O King of keen intellect and boundless strength! Know that Rama, scion of the noble Ikshvaku dynasty, has arrived here with his brother Lakshmana. A paragon of valor, Rama is the son of the virtuous King Dasaratha, who ruled with righteousness and fulfilled his sacred duties. Dasaratha, in his reign, conducted the grand Aswamedha, Rajasuya, and Athirathra yajnas, gifting thousands of cows and vast lands to the deserving. Under his patronage, Vedic schools flourished, their wisdom preserved for eternity. His piety and noble deeds echoed across the cosmos, and in his kingdom, none knew hunger or affliction.
Yet, under the influence of his queen, Dasaratha sent his beloved son into exile. Thus, Rama, bound by dharma, now dwells in the forest, leading an ascetic life. But fate has wrought a cruel twist—his wife, the virtuous Sita, has been seized by the demon king Ravana. In this hour of distress, Rama seeks your support, O mighty Sugreeva, to aid in her retrieval. He and his brother seek your alliance, and they, being venerable and worthy, must be received with due honor.”
Hearing these words, Sugreeva, the exiled monkey king, was heartened and replied with deep emotion:
“O Hanuman! Fortunate am I to forge a bond with such an illustrious prince. His humility, his gracious acceptance of even a monkey as an ally, speaks volumes of his magnanimity. It is an honor beyond measure to be part of his righteous cause. If a bond is to be sealed, let us clasp hands in the time-honored tradition of solemn vows.”
Moved by Sugreeva’s sincerity, Rama clasped his hand, embracing him with the warmth of true kinship. Hanuman, invoking divine blessings, kindled a sacred fire. Before its blazing heart, the two warriors stood face to face, their fates entwining in the flickering flames.
With renewed hope, Sugreeva turned to Rama, his voice trembling with both grief and longing. “O Rama! My brother Vali has wronged me beyond measure, chasing me like a shadow and forcing me to live in ceaseless fear. Only upon this mount have I found respite, yet my heart remains burdened with despair. Grant me your assurance—deliver me from this torment.”
Rama, his countenance serene yet resolute, smiled and spoke with unwavering conviction:
“Sugreeva, know this—I am bound by dharma. No injustice shall stand before me. I shall not rest until your rightful place is restored. As for your tormentor, my arrows, radiant as the sun and potent as Indra’s thunderbolt, shall strike him down as serpents of wrath. Witness with your own eyes—Vali’s doom is nigh!”
At these words, Sugreeva’s heart swelled with faith. “O Rama, best among men! With your grace, I shall reclaim my wife and my kingdom. Free me from my brother’s cruelty, and I shall forever stand by your side.”
Thus, the pact was sealed—a moment so momentous that the very fabric of the cosmos shuddered. Far away in Lanka, Ravana’s left eye twitched in ominous portent. In her distant captivity, Sita’s gaze wavered as if sensing an impending turn of fate. Even Sugreeva’s left eye quivered, heralding a change destined to alter the course of history.
With renewed determination, Sugreeva spoke once more:
**”O Rama, scion of the illustrious Raghu lineage! Hanuman has narrated to me the tale of your exile, your trials, and the treacherous act of Ravana, who stole away Sita in your absence. This demon, biding his time, struck down the noble Jatayu and seized your beloved. Yet, let not grief consume you! Just as the sacred Vedas were once retrieved by Lord Varaha from the depths, so too shall Sita be restored to you.
Be she hidden in nether realms or sheltered in foreign lands, no power shall prevent me from bringing her back. Even if celestial beings stand guard over her, I shall not waver. O Rama, cast aside sorrow! By my very oath, I vow to reunite you with your wife.
I recall, as I stood upon this mountain with my four companions, witnessing a sorrow-stricken woman, her cries of ‘Rama! Rama!’ piercing the skies. She writhed like an anguished serpent upon the demon’s chariot as it soared southward. It could be none other than Sita! At that moment, she cast down a bundle—ornaments wrapped in cloth. We have kept them safe, and I shall bring them forth for you to behold.”
As the ornaments were presented, Rama, overwhelmed by emotion, was momentarily lost in a sea of sorrow. His breath came ragged, his anguish manifesting like a storm within. Gazing upon them, he seethed like a cobra stirred to wrath. Turning to his brother, he murmured:
“Lakshmana, behold these jewels! Cast upon the soft grass, they have survived unbroken—else they would have been shattered beyond recognition.”
Lakshmana, his voice steady yet filled with reverence, replied:
“O Rama, I cannot discern her necklaces, her earrings, or the adornments of her hands. But these anklets—I know them well, for my eyes rest upon her feet each day when I offer my humble salutations.”
Regaining his composure, Rama turned to Sugreeva, his voice now tempered with steel.
**”O Monkey King! My Sita, my very heart, has been seized by this vile demon. Tell me—where does he dwell? In what land does he make his lair? What forces does he command? Speak, and I shall bring forth a tempest of wrath upon him.
By abducting my beloved, Ravana has flung open the gates of death itself! No corner of this world shall grant him refuge from my fury. Tell me, Sugreeva—who is this demon? Where does he reside? What are his strengths and his weaknesses?”
Though his anger burned hot as the midday sun, Rama understood the ways of fate. Even as his soul cried for vengeance, he knew that destiny moves with measured steps, each event unfolding in its appointed time. The balance of the cosmos must not be disrupted; the wheel of time must turn as ordained.
Thus began a journey that would shape the fate of realms, a saga that would resound through the ages—the tale of Rama’s unwavering resolve, of a friendship forged in fire, and of a battle destined to restore dharma to the world.
