- and began to recount Ramachandra’s praises. As soon as she heard him. Sita’s grief took flight. She listened with all her soul and ears. While Hanuman related his story from the beginning.

She said, ‘You, my brother, who have told me a tale as refreshing as ambrosia to my ears, why do you not show yourself?’ then Hanuman advanced and drew near. As soon as she saw him, she turned her face away and sat down in bewilderment.

‘I am Rama’s messenger, Janaki my mother, he said: ‘I solemnly swear it by the all-merciful Lord himself. I have brought this ring, mother, which Rama gave me for you as a token.’

'Tell me,’ she said, ‘how have men and monkeys come to consort together? Hanuman then explained how they had entered into an alliance.

Upon hearing the monkey’s loving speech, her heart trusted him, and she recognized him as a servant of the all-merciful Lord in thought and word and deed.

Recognizing him to be a devotee of Hari, she developed an intense affection for him. Her eyes filled with tears and a thrill ran through her body. ‘To me,’ she said, ‘who was sinking in the ocean of bereavement, Hanuman, dear friend, you have come like a ship to save me.

Now tell me, I adjure you, of the welfare of all-blissful Rama (the slayer of Khara) and his younger brother. Raghunatha is tender-hearted and compassionate; why, monkey, should he affect such cruelty?