Recovering herself again, Lankini stood up an folding her hands in dismay, made this humble petition: ‘When Brahma granted Ravana his boon, he spoke to me and gave me a sign before he left:

"When you get discomfited by a blow from monkey, know that it is all over with the demon race." I must have earned great merit, friend, that I have been rewarded with the sight of Rama’s envoy.

In one scale of the balance, my friend, put together all the joys of heaven and the bliss of liberation, but they will not outweigh the joy derived from a moment’s communion with the saints.

Enter the city with the lord of Ayodhya enshrined in your heart and accomplish all your business.’ Poison becomes nectar, foes turn friends, the ocean shrinks to a mere puddle, fire is made cool

- and Mount Sumeru, O Garuda, a grain of dust for him on whom Rama sheds his glance of grace. Hanuman assumed a very tiny form and invoking Rama, entered the city.

He ransacked every mansion and saw countless warriors here and there. Then he made his way into Ravana’s palace, which was too marvellous to be described.

Hanuman saw him buried in sleep, but no trace of the princess of Videha anywhere in the palace. He then noticed another magnificent mansion, with a temple sacred to Hari standing apart.