Then Hanuman clasped Sugriva’s feet and earnestly sought his favour: ‘After spending some ten days more in the service of Raghunatha I shall return to behold your feet again, my master.’

‘O Son of the Wind,’ said Sugriva, ‘a storehouse of merit as you are, you go and serve the All-merciful.’ Thereupon all the monkeys forthwith departed; but Angad said, ‘Listen, Hanuman:

with folded hands I beg of you to offer my most humble reverence to the Lord and continually remind Raghunatha of me.’

These words uttered, Bali’s son (Angad) started on his journey, while Hanuman came back and told the Lord of Angad’s devotion, and the Blessed Lord was filled with ecstatic delight.

Harder far than adamant and softer than a flower is the heart of Rama, O king of birds; then tell me, who can comprehend it?

Next, the merciful Rama summoned the Nishada chief and graciously bestowed on him jewels and raiment, saying, ‘Now return to your home, but ever remember me, and in thought and word and deed hold to the path of righteousness.

You, my friend, are as much my brother as Bharata; you must continue to visit Ayodhya every now and then.’ Guha was greatly delighted to hear these words and fell at the Lord’s feet, his eyes full of tears.