Kishkindha Kanda

The Kishkindha Kanda, or "Book of Kishkindha," is the fourth kanda of the Ramayana — 67 sargas and 2,243 verses that pivot the epic from personal tragedy to epic mobilisation. It is set in the Vanara (monkey) kingdom of Kishkindha, nestled in the Deccan hills, and tells the story of how Rama builds the alliance that will ultimately recover Sita.

Searching desperately, Rama and Lakshmana encounter Hanuman on the Rishyamuka mountain — an encounter that becomes one of the most celebrated friendships in world literature. Hanuman, minister to the exiled Vanara king Sugreeva, disguises himself as a Brahmin to test the brothers. Immediately recognising their divinity, Hanuman carries Rama on his shoulders to meet Sugreeva. Rama and Sugreeva make a solemn compact: Rama will kill Sugreeva's brother Vali (who had usurped the throne and stolen his wife) in exchange for Sugreeva's help in the search for Sita.

The killing of Vali is one of the Ramayana's most morally debated moments — Rama shoots Vali from hiding, and the dying Vali challenges Rama on the ethics of this act. Rama's defense and Vali's final acceptance make for one of the epic's deepest philosophical dialogues. Sugreeva is installed as king, and Angada (Vali's son) is named heir.

But Sugreeva, distracted by pleasures, delays sending the search parties. Lakshmana arrives in fury; Sugreeva awakens to his duty. Vast armies of Vanaras are dispatched to the four quarters of the earth. The Kishkindha Kanda closes with the southern party led by Hanuman, Angada, and the aged Jambavan reaching the seashore — and staring across at distant Lanka. It is Jambavan who recalls Hanuman's forgotten divine powers and urges him to make the great leap.