The Monkey's Promise: Hanuman Finds Seeta

"Lord Brahma once told me that when a monkey strikes me, I will know that the demons' end is near," she said to Hanuman. "It is my good fortune to see you, Lord Ram's messenger."

Still in his tiny form, Hanuman searched every building in Lanka for Seeta but could not find her. He saw many beautiful women in Ravan's buildings adorned with ornaments and makeup. Hanuman knew that Seeta would not be wearing makeup after her separation from Ram. Discouraged, Hanuman's mind filled with apprehensions—"Did Ravan kill Seeta? Did Ravan throw Seeta out of his Pushpak Viman while traveling to Lanka? Has Seeta committed suicide?"

Hanuman realized he had searched everywhere except in the Ashok Garden. With renewed determination, he leaped over the boundary wall and reached the garden. The splendor of the Ashok Garden was indescribable. Hanuman felt confident that Seeta must be there. He began investigating every object in the garden and soon saw a marble platform nearby.

Hanuman saw a woman seated on a platform, surrounded by monstrous creatures. She was weak, pale, and wore tattered clothes. Her face bore the marks of countless tears, and she looked tense, breathing rapidly. Despite her condition, she still possessed an undeniable beauty. Based on Ram's description, Hanuman felt certain this woman must be Seeta, and his heart overflowed with joy.

The demonesses surrounding Seeta were bizarre and frightening. One had only one eye, another had only one ear, and a third was entirely earless. Some were gigantic, some were dwarfs, and all were hideous. They sat in the shade of an enormous tree, never leaving Seeta alone for even a moment.

The night was almost over. At daybreak, the ten-headed Demon King Ravan awoke in his palace and went straight to the Ashok Garden to meet Seeta. "You are sacrificing your life for that fateless forest dweller who has been exiled by his own father," Ravan ridiculed Seeta.