IN face of the unexpected difficulties that overtook them one after another, Rama and Lakshmana often lost heart. Their fortitude yielded place sometimes to great despair. But they managed to encourage each other and proceeded on their way.

Passing through the forest, the two princes were suddenly caught by a tremendously big Raakshasa of ugly form without head or feet. His mouth was in his great belly and he had two enormous arms which, without moving from his place, he would stretch out and clutch tiger, bear or any other living thing within reach, and swallow them.

He had only one eye which was placed in his chest but which was terrible to behold.

Caught by this monster, the princes were, for a while, bewildered and did not know what to do.

Then Rama told Lakshmana: "Let us not be confused. You will cut off one arm, I shall cut off the other."

And so they did. The name of the monster was Kabandha, which means the barrrel-shaped one. Once his arms were severed, he was helpless and began to explain:

"On account of my evil deeds I was cursed by Indra to bear this form and this name. I believe you are Rama and Lakshmana. Indra promised me freedom from the curse when you two should come and cut off my arms and commit this body of mine to the flames."

The princes set fire to his body as desired by the unfortunate monster and there arose from the flames a lovely being which entered a heavenly chariot and ascended to the celestial world.

Before going, he said to Rama: "You will assuredly regain Seeta. Go to the beautiful banks of the Pampa and seek the, help of Sugreeva living there on the Rishyamooka hill. Driven out of the kingdom by his brother Vaali, he lives in constant fear and danger. Gain his friendship, and you will succeed in your attempt." Saying this Kabandha disappeared.

Rama and Lakshmana now set forward in the direction of the Pampa. In that lovely region they visited the aashrama of the aged sanyaasini, Sabari, the disciple of Rishi Matanga, and accepted her hospitality.

Sabari was a woman of a forest tribe and a faithful serving sister in the aashrama of the old saint Matanga. When he depart, ed this life, she wanted to die too; but he said the time was not yet and she should await the arrival of Rama, an incarnation of Vishnu, for the bliss of his darshan was in store for her. So the old and wrinkled woman lived her saintly life, looking faithfully after aashrama as of old and keeping it sweet to receive the promised guest.

When the princes came, she produced the fruits she had gathered and kept for them, and described and showed to them the wonders of the Matanga aashrama. Then with their leave, she kindled a fire and entering it ascended to heaven.

The meeting with this saintly woman and the waters of the river Pampa gave strength of mind to the princes. They thought over what should be done next.

Said Rama: "Lakshmana, I am beginning to think that we shall succeed. Let us search the forest for Sugreeva whose he help we should obtain."

They went all over the Pampa area. The place was lovely, but the loveliness of the spot and the animals, birds, trees and creepers only increased Rama's grief.

Every beautiful object wrung his heart and made him think, "How much would Seeta have enjoyed this?" Try as he might, he could not control the human sorrow which by his incarnation he had undertaken to endure.

Lakshmana tried to revive his spirit. He said. "Even if Seeta is kept hidden in the womb of Aditi, the mother of the gods, we will discover her. Raavana cannot escape. It is certain we shall kill him and redeem Seeta. It is not proper that you should thus despair. How can you let anxiety or weakness come over you? If we lose a precious thing, we should work for its recovery with perseverance. Sometimes our very affection becomes our enemy. Too much love brings on grief and grief weakens effort. What need is there for me to tell you all this? You know it all. Let us not lose hope; let us forget the grief brought on by love and bend our mind and body to exertion. Be brave. Be hopeful. We shall succeed. Get rid of your sorrow, brother!"

The younger brother thus advised Rama. Commentators look upon Lakshmana as Aadisesha. Aadisesha, the serpent, is said to be ever the protecting spirit of Vishnu. So Lakshmana ever tried to give Rama fresh energy and enthusiasm.

The fugitive Vaanara prince Sugreeva and his faithful adherents with the watchful vigilance of fear saw Rama and Lakshmana roving in the forests and were troubled with doubts. Having been ejected from his kingdom by Vaali, Sugreeva chose this mountainous spot because he believed that it was made by the curse of a rishi inaccessible to Vaali. And now he feared that here, too, Vaali in disguise was following him in order to kill him.

Or else, he feared, some Kshatriya warriors taking the side of Vaali were there to kill him. The other Vaanaras ran hither and thither in panic.

Hanumaan was Sugreeva's chief minister. He reassured Sugreeva, saying: "This is not Vaali, nor are they friends of Vaali, it seems to me. There is no ground for fear. I shall go and talk to them and find out the truth.''

Sugreeva was pleased and said: "Do it, but be careful. Go, find out the truth and come back. Use all your skill. I am full of suspicion. They behave as if they are searching for some one. Could it not be that it is me they seek?"

Taking the form of a braahmana, Hanumaan approached Rama and Lakshmana. As he went and stood in front of them, feeling possessed his heart, Straight he started speaking out frankly.

Hanumaan went forward to learn the truth without discovering himself. But as he went on speaking, he threw all caution away and told in detail all about himself and the Vaanara King.

Looking on Rama and Lakshmana, he was besides himself, as a devotee in the presence of the Lord, and praised them. He said that he was a Vaanara and had come here in disguise as desired by his King.

"Royal saints," he said, "Your presence here fills my heart with joy. There is an aura round you as if you were gods. I take it, you are here in the forest for doing tapas. But why have you come to this inaccessible spot? Please tell me who you are. This river and this forest are made lovelier by your presence. Your faces and forms are radiantly beautiful. The creatures in the forest look on you with reverence and awe. Your strength and courage are manifest. Who are you? From which country do you come? it is clear you are entitled by birth to rule some mighty kingdom and yet you are dressed like ascetics. With matted hair and bark garments you carry also bows and arrows.

"Why are you silent? Here Sugreeva, the Vaanara King, driven out of his kingdom by his brother Vaali, is in hiding. He is full of grief. I am his minister. My name is Hanumaan. I am the son of Vaayu. As ordered by my king, I put on the appearance of a brahmachaari and am now here before you."

Listening to these courteous words of Hanumaan, Rama said to Lakshmana: "Brother, this speech of Hanumaan has inspired me with confidence. I trust him absolutely. Did you notice the beauty of his language and how correct and rhythmic his enunciation is? He speaks like one who has mastered the Vedas and the science of grammar. An ideal messenger he is. For who has such a messenger. He whom we are searching for is himself in search of us. We came here to see Sugreeva and he has sent this messenger to us. Let us welcome him."

Then they began to talk freely to one another. Rama and Lakshmana on the one hand and Hanumaan on the other related their history, their joys and sorrows, hopes and fears.

As a result of this talk, Lakshmana conceived a great affection for Hanumaan.

He said to Hanumaan: "My brother, born to great wealth, the eldest son of an emperor, has left his kingdom and come to the forest. Here his wife, dearer to him than life itself, was abducted by Raavana, who had by a fraudulent trick inveigled us far away from the hermitage where she was. We seek Sugreeva's help to rescue her and recover her, for a daitya, who under a curse took on the form of a raakshasa, told us, 'if you secure the help of Sugreeva, the Vaanara King, you will regain the princess stolen by the Raakshasa. And so we are here. We seek the friendship of your king."

Hanumaan answered: "Sugreeva too has been persecuted by Vaali and deprived of his kingdom and his wife. It is now certain that he will regain both. My king will gain much by your friendship and with his help you will also succeed in your efforts."

Then the three went to Sugreeva. The way was such that only a Vaanara could traverse it. Hanumaan resumed his natural shape and carried both the princes on his back.

The hearts of good men meet and instantly come together. As the Kural says the spontaneous mutual attraction of two hearts and not long acquaintance creates friendship and this friend ship was part of the divine dispensation. It was pre-destined that Hanumaan's sublime devotion should be at Rama's service for the fulfillment of the purpose of the incarnation and so there was acceptance at first sight.

His carrying the two princes on his shoulder was an outward symbol of inward union. As friends and lovers embrace each other, Hanumaan, the loving servant, rejoiced in carrying his Lord on his shoulders.

Ascending the Malaya hill, Hanumaan went in advance to Sugreeva and, announcing the visit of Rama and Lakshmana, said: "Rama is a prince full of wisdom and virtue. He is the eldest son of the famous Emperor Dasaratha. To fulfil his father's promise, he left Ayodhya with his brother and wife and came to the forest. King Dasaratha was compelled by his younger wife, in fulfillment of an undefined promise given long ago, to banish Rama. In the forest, taking advantage of the princes' absence, Raavana carried away the wife of Rama. Rama has come here, seeking your help in finding her. The princes are worthy of your friendship. You too will gain greatly from friendship with such heroes."

Sugreeva assumed the form of a handsome man and had a long and heart-to-heart talk with the princes. Stretching forth his hand to Rama, he said: "Princes, if you care for the friendship of a Vaanara, here is my band, accept it. Hanumaan has told me all about your virtue and greatness."

Rama clasped his hand and embraced him.

Soon Hanumaan got together some faggots and kindled a fire. Circumambulating the flames Rama and Sugreeva swore mutual friendship: "Let us share our joys and sorrows." They vowed: "Let our friendship be eternal."

They cut down the branch of a tree and sitting on it, Rama and Sugreeva were engaged in cheerful talk and so, too, were Hanumaan and Lakshmana seated on another.

Sugreeva narrated the story of his life-how greatly he and his elder brother, the mighty Vaali, were once devoted to one another, and how malignant fate had through no fault of Sugreeva's made deadly enemies of them. It bad come about this way. Once a Raakshasa named Maayaavi came at midnight to the gate of Kishkindha, their capital, and vauntingly challenged Vaali to instant combat in pursuance of an ancient feud. Vaali, who never refused a fight, rushed forth impetuously, followed by Sugreeva; and seeing them, the Raakshasa fled. Pursuing him they saw him disappear into a great cave the mouth of which was overgrown with brushwood. Vaali bade Sugreeva-exacting an oath from him-to wait at the entrance for him and plunged into the darkness of the cave after the foe. Sugreeva waited long, but no Vaali came and as he stood racked with doubt, indistinct shouts and groans, which seemed to his horror-struck ears his brother's, issued from the cave and presently there gushed out of it foaming blood which made him sure that Vaali had perished in the struggle. To make sure that the victorious Raakshasa would not rush out in the elation of triumph and destroy Kishkindha, Sugreeva blocked the entrance of the cave with a huge rock and returned to Kishkindha with his tale of Vaali's death. As a rulerless state invites disaster, he was persuaded by the ministers and elders to occupy the vacant throne. While he was enjoying the sweets of power, like a bolt from the blue, Vaali burst on them, haggard with wrath and wounds, and accusing him of treason and unnatural conduct towards one who was at once his brother and his king, drove him out with scorn and contumely as a wretch too vile to live, but whom he forebore to slay only because he was unfortunately also his brother. So by a cruel fate he had been deprived of his home, throne, and all, including even his wife, and had to seek asylum in the forest with a few faithful friends. Here at least he was safe, for Vaali had been forbidden by a rishi from entering the precincts on pain of instant death.

This incident between Vaali and Sugreeva is a good example of the moral teaching conveyed in the Puraanas. There was nothing terribly wrong in the conduct either of Vaali or of Sugreeva. Anger confuses the mind. One who yields to anger loses the capacity to see the truth. That way lies destruction. Vaali's anger led to his end, Sugreeva humbly confessed the truth, but Vaali would not listen. He was beside himself with rage. Sugreeva too, was guilty of imprudent haste. He concluded too quickly that his brother had died. He was afraid that the Asura who was victorious would come out and kill him also; so he closed the entrance of the cave and returned home. At first he was not keen on becoming king and yet he allowed himself to be persuaded by the people. He yielded to a sub-conscious desire without sufficient thought. So difficulties came upon him. Thoughtless action leads to unhappiness. This is what we learn from the story of Sugreeva.

One should not desire what belongs to another. One has to exercise great care, and control one's desires. In contrast to Sugreeva, when the ministers and subjects in Ayodhya pressed Bharata to accept the crown, he was firm in his refusal. Bharata's strength of character was great. But Sugreeva was different. He was weak, and suffered in consequence. Bharata had the courage to refuse and his Dame lives forever.

In every episode of the Ramaayana some lesson which we should learn for our daily life is taught. The meaning is in some places plain; in others it may lie hidden, ff we read with reverence and think deeply, we can always see the moral.

Sugreeva concluded his story with a piteous appeal to Rama. "For fear of Vaali I am a wanderer in the forest. I live concealing myself here. Could you, will you, kill Vaali and restore to me my kingdom and my wife?"

Rama answered: "Certainly I will, Vaali cannot escape this bow. Be assured."

As Sugreeva and Rama were talking thus, in the Asoka grove far away, the left eyelids of Seeta throbbed, which is a good omen for women. At the same time, the left eyelids of the Raakshasa King also as an evil sign