The Enchanted Cave of Swayamprabha

Under Angad's leadership, a group of monkeys, including Hanuman, traveled to the far side of the Vindhyachal Mountain but couldn't find Seeta. Despite their exhaustion, they persisted in their search. 

"We observed a stream flowing out of a cave in the mountain, with birds bathing in it," reported Hanuman. "This indicates that a river is flowing from inside the mountain."

All the monkeys followed Hanuman into the cave, where they found trees laden with fruits and a pond filled with clean water. Inside, there was a grand building made of gold, silver, and precious stones, surrounded by a beautiful park where trees shone like gold and silver, dazzling their eyes. Some trees rained flowers and were as bright as the rising sun. The pond was full of blue lotuses, golden fish, and tortoises. The entire atmosphere was filled with a melodious voice, and the radiant surroundings became even more golden when touched by the sun's rays. The air was fragrant, and seeing the picturesque surroundings, the monkeys began to experience bliss.

There, they saw a beautiful cottage where a holy woman lived. Her name was Swayamprabha, and she was the daughter of Meru Savarni. The golden mountain and beautiful forest were created using demonic magic. The magic existed peacefully in the woods for several years. However, the magic fell in love with a nymph named Hema, who was Swayamprabha's friend. Indra, the king of the gods, destroyed the magic with his thunderbolt.

"Once you enter this cave, it is exceedingly difficult to leave it alive," Swayamprabha told the monkeys. "But with the achievements I have acquired from my penance, I will take you outside alive. Let the monkeys close their eyes. No one can go out alive with open eyes."

The monkeys closed their eyes and quickly found themselves on the seashore. They saw the frightening waves of the sea and felt that Monkey King Sugreev's time was about to run out. If the monkeys returned to Kishkindha empty-handed, Sugreev would impose the death penalty on them. Prince Angad felt that starving to death would be better than returning to Kishkindha.