The reason why Hanuman went unscathed, Girija, was that he was the envoy of him who created the fire. Thus he consumed the whole of Lanka from one end to the other and then leapt into the ocean.

After extinguishing his tail and relieving his fatigue, he resumed his diminutive form and went and stood before Janaka’s daughter with folded hands.

‘Be pleased, mother,’ he said, ‘to give me some token, such as Raghunatha gave me.’ She unfastened the jewel in her hair and gave it to the Son of the Wind, who gladly accepted it.

‘Greet him respectfully for me, my son,’ said Sita, ‘and give him this message: "Though you, Lord, have no wish unfulfilled, yet recalling your vow of kindness to the afflicted, deliver me, O master, from my grievous distress."

Repeat to him, friend, the episode of Indra’s son (Jayanta) and remind my lord of the might of his arrows. If my lord does not come here within a month, he will not find me alive.

Tell me, Hanuman, how can I keep myself alive? You too, my son, now speak of going, and it was only the sight of you that brought relief to my heavy heart; I have before me now the same dreary days and weary nights.’

Reassuring Janaka’s daughter, he consoled her in many ways and, bowing his head at her lotus feet, set forth to rejoin Rama.