Angada led the monkeys and bears back to Kishkindha, hurrying to meet Sugriva's deadline.

On the way they came to Madhuvana, a honey-park belonging to King Sugriva. "Honey for the monkeys who bring news of Sita!" shouted the monkeys. "We want honey! Give us honey!"

But Dadhimukha, the monkey who guarded the honey-park, stood his ground. "This grove belongs to King Sugriva!" he said. "The honey is his."

Undeterred, the monkeys and bears overwhelmed Dadhimukha. Even Angada joined in the fight and knocked Dadhimukha to the ground.

Then they got drunk on the honey, dancing and singing songs of victory.

Driven away by the honey-drunk monkeys and bears, Dadhimukha ran to King Sugriva and reported to him what had happened.

But instead of being angry, Sugriva was delighted. "Summon Lakshmana here immediately!" he said. "This means that Angada's expedition to the south succeeded. They must be returning with news of Sita."

Then he turned to Dadhimukha. "Bring Angada here to me, together with Hanuman and Jambavan. We will listen to their news, and then Lakshmana and I will go to Rama on Rishyamukha Hill."

Encouraged by Sugriva's happiness, Dadhimukha then returned to the honey-park to carry out his king's command.

Rama had been waiting on Rishyamukha Hill; under the terms of his exile, he could not enter the city. Much time had passed, but no news had come.

At last Rama saw Lakshmana approaching, together with Sugriva, Angada and Hanuman, their faces shining with happiness. "Is there news?" Rama shouted eagerly.

Angada narrated their trip to the ocean, and Hanuman told Rama about his trip to Lanka.

"Sita is safe and awaits you," he said. Then, taking Rama aside, he told Rama the story of the crow and also gave him Sita's hairpin.

Rama wept with joy at this news.

Ravana summoned his ministers. "Advise me about Rama, the human who sent that monkey to our city."

The rakshasas told Ravana there was nothing to fear, but Ravana's brother Vibhishana did not agree. "There have been many ill omens," he said. "Snakes have coiled around the sacred poles. Ants have infested the holy offerings. The cows give only curdled milk, and the horses weep. Crows are flocking to the rooftops. Vultures are circling. Jackals are howling."

All that Vibhishana said was true, but Ravana grew angry and sent him away. "Sita is mine!" Ravana shouted. "I will never surrender her."

Ravana's gigantic brother Kumbhakarna had been sleeping all year, cursed as he was by Nidra-Devi, the sleep-goddess. He knew nothing of Ravana's abduction of Sita. Kumbhakarna had even slept through Hanuman's destruction of Lanka.

When Kumbhakarna awoke, Ravana told his brother about Sita and about Rama's demands. "What do you think I should do?" he asked.

"Taking the woman was not wise," said Kumbhakarna. "But I will use my strength to defeat your enemies. Let Rama come, let his brother come, let all the bears and monkeys come! Wake me, and I will kill them all and drink their blood."

Rama led his army of monkeys and bears south to the ocean. There they camped on the shore, deciding how to rescue Sita from Lanka.

To their surprise, a rakshasa came flying through the sky. "Rama," cried the rakshasa, "give me refuge!" It was Vibhishana, Ravana's righteous brother.

"He can't be trusted," shouted Sugriva. "I'm certain he plans to kill us in our sleep." Angada and Jambavan agreed that Rama should send Vibhishana away.

But Hanuman said, "I know this rakshasa; I saw him speak in Sita's defense, defying his brother. We can trust him."

So Rama gave Vibhishana refuge.

Rama sought help from Varuna, the Ocean God, to cross over to Lanka. He conducted rituals by the shore for three days and nights, but the Ocean did not come to him, and Rama grew angry. He attacked the Ocean with arrows, shattering the water and terrifying the Ocean's inhabitants.

Lakshmana rushed towards Rama and restrained him. "You are not a man of anger, brother. Stop this attack."

Ocean appeared at last. "Dear Rama," he said, "the way to cross me is by means of a bridge. The monkey Nala knows how to do this; let him build the bridge."

Following Varuna's advice, Rama sought out the monkey Nala, the son of Vishvakarma, architect of the gods. "Yes," Nala told Rama, "I can build this bridge."

Thousands of monkeys and bears dragged trees and rocks to the ocean's edge. Nala chose the rocks, fitting them one to another, and on each rock he wrote Rama's name. Thanks to the power of the Rama-nama, the stones floated on the water; they did not sink.

As they saw the bridge stretching farther and farther towards Lanka, everyone whooped with joy. Even the gods and the gandharvas gazed down from heaven in amazement.

While monkeys and bears hurried to build the bridge, dragging huge trees and enormous rocks to the seashore, a squirrel wanted to help too. The squirrel rolled in the sand, ran to the bridge, and shook the sand out of his fur. Again and again.

Then an angry monkey kicked the squirrel out of the way. "We need real workers!" he shouted.

But Rama rebuked the monkey. "The squirrel's work matters," explained Rama. "That sand is filling gaps between the stones."

In gratitude, Rama ran his fingers over the squirrel's back.

That is why the squirrels of India have stripes.

One morning, they saw something floating in the water... a woman's body, tangled in the seaweed.

Lakshmana ran up. "It's Sita!" he wailed in horror.

Rama came running, and the princes wept, stricken with grief.

But Hanuman was suspicious. He built a pyre, put the body on top, and set it on fire.

"Stop, Hanuman!" Rama shouted. "What do you think you are doing?"

Before Hanuman could answer, the supposed corpse rose up and shrieked.

"It's not Sita!" said Hanuman. "This is Benjakai; I saw this evil sorceress in Ravana's palace."

Howling in defeat, Benjakai fled back into the ocean.