With keen discernment and unerring judgment, Hanuman perceived the noble and divine nature of Rama and Lakshmana. He was convinced that their alliance with Sugreeva would extend beyond mere mutual aid. A profound certainty settled within him—a great soul had entered this desolate forest with a destined purpose. He believed, without doubt, that Sugreeva alone could fulfill this sacred mission, and in return, he was fated to reclaim his rightful throne.
Eager to discern the true intent behind their arrival, Hanuman addressed Rama with reverence:
“O Prince, this vast forest along the banks of the sacred Pampa is fraught with peril. Serpents of monstrous size and beasts of untamed ferocity lurk within its depths. What fate compels thee and thy brother to tread this forbidding path?”
Lakshmana, having sought Rama’s silent assent, stepped forth and spoke with measured dignity:
“O learned one, hear of the mighty sovereign whose fame knows no bounds—Dasaratha, the peerless ruler of men, who governed with justice and compassion. He bore no enmity, nor did enmity touch him, for he was as benevolent as Brahma himself. His munificence knew no equal; his yajnas and offerings surpassed the reckonings of men.
His eldest son, Rama, is the shield of all beings, the guardian of righteousness, and the embodiment of virtue. He walks the path of duty with unwavering resolve, upholding his father’s command with absolute devotion. Greater than all in prowess and nobility, he was the foremost among princes, endowed with majestic qualities, yet accessible to all who sought him. But fate, ever inscrutable, cast him from his rightful dominion and exiled him to the forest.
I, Lakshmana, his brother, bound by gratitude, have renounced the comforts of royalty to serve him. A man of supreme self-discipline, my brother, the illustrious Rama, was followed by his wife as light follows the sun. Yet a cruel destiny intervened—a demon, masked in saintly guise, stole away his beloved. We know not who this fiend may be.**
It was a sage among demons, a cursed son of the Gandharvas, who spoke to us of Sugreeva, extolling his wisdom and valor. Before ascending to the celestial realms, he declared with certainty: ‘None but Sugreeva, the warrior of boundless knowledge, can aid thee in thy quest.’
Thus, we have come seeking the refuge and aid of Sugreeva. Rama, once a giver of wealth and protector of multitudes, who bestowed gold, lands, and treasures upon the learned and the pious, now needs Sugreeva’s help. He who upheld kings and safeguarded dharma now seeks the support of one noble soul. O Hanuman, son of the wind-god, know that this plea comes from the mightiest among men—the scion of Dasaratha, the bulwark of righteousness.”**
Lakshmana’s words, steeped in truth and fervor, stirred Hanuman’s heart. With solemn joy, he responded:
“Fortunate am I to stand in the presence of men of wisdom, self-restraint, and noble intent. By divine grace, I am blessed to be your ally. Come, I shall take you to Sugreeva, who shall count himself fortunate to behold you.”
Then Hanuman, the son of Vayu, with unshaken resolve, recounted Sugreeva’s plight—the betrayal by Vali, the loss of his throne, and his exile in fear of his tyrant brother. Yet, in this very hardship, the threads of destiny were weaving a greater design.
“With Sugreeva at thy side, the search for Sita shall commence. Fear not, for I shall bear thee both upon my shoulders and bring thee before my king.”
So saying, Hanuman cast aside his ascetic guise and revealed his true, mighty form. With swift and effortless motion, he bore Rama and Lakshmana through the sky, alighting upon the sacred heights of Mount Rishyamuka. As his feet touched the earth, Hanuman, filled with unwavering faith and exultation, strode towards Sugreeva.
A fateful hour had arrived. The wheels of destiny turned. The meeting of man and vanara heralded the beginning of a grand endeavor—one that would shake the dominion of demons and restore the balance of the world. The veiled design of fate was now unraveling, step by step, towards its divine resolution.