For being an elder in your family, Ocean, my Lord, will think out and suggest a plan. The whole host of bears and monkeys will thus be able to cross the sea without an effort.’ (Sagara, whose sixty thousand and one sons dug the bed of the ocean, was one of Rama’s ancestors.)

‘Friend,’ said Rama, ‘you have suggested an excellent plan; let us try it and see if fortune helps it.’ But this advice did not please Lakshmana, who was very sorry to hear Rama’s reply.

'Lord, said Lakshmana, ‘why trust the freaks of fortune? Fill your mind with indignation! Dry up the ocean! This fortune is but a coward’s crutch; it is the lazy who cry –fortune! Fortune!’

Upon hearing this, Raghubira laughed and said, ‘We shall do it all the same; pray ease your mind.’ Reassuring his brother with these words, Raghunatha went to the seashore.

First he bowed his head and made obeisance and then, spreading some kusha grass on the shore, took his seat. As soon as Vibhishana had gone to seek the Lord, Ravana sent spies after him.

Disguised as monkeys, they watched all that was going on and inwardly applauded the Lord’s perfections and his fondness for those who came to him for protection.

But when they began to extol Rama’s magnanimity and in the intensity of their emotion forgot their disguise, the monkeys recognized them as enemy spies and bound them all and brought them to the Monkey King.