Hanuman was awestruck when his eyes spotted Sita. Sitting among the rakshas that littered the Ashoka Vatika, she looked like a most delicate lotus in the muddiest of ponds. Hanuman remained perched on the tree under which Sita was seated. He waited patiently for the right moment to approach her.
He waited as Ravana approached her and began to speak: “I am the most powerful ruler in the universe and you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. Marry me, become my beloved queen, O Sita!” Disgusted she said, “How dare you speak to me like this? I am the daughter of King Janaka, the wife of Shri Ram! Free me and I will try to spare your life.” Enraged by her comment and failing to persuade her, Ravana stormed off.
As the demons that guarded her fell asleep, Hanuman recognized that an opportunity was now open for him to approach. He began to sweetly chant the name of Shri Ram, “Jai Ram! Shri Ram! Jai Ram!” Upon hearing this, Sita’s senses heightened and she became curious, “Where is this sacred song emanating from?” Hanuman then threw Rama’s ring in front of Sita. She stretched out, picked up the ring and clenched it with tear-filled eyes. With a wavering voice she questioned, “This is my Lord Rama’s ring! Where did it come from?”
Hanuman then showed himself and revealed his identity to Sita, explaining that Lord Rama had been relentlessly looking for her. Immediately, Sita’s spirits were uplifted and a renewed hope filled her heart. Hanuman offered to rescue her at that very moment but she insisted on waiting for Ram in order to protect his honour. Sita then gave Hanuman her chudamini to show as proof that he had found her and she told him to inform Ram that if he did not arrive in a month he would not find her alive. Hanuman bowed and then asked Mother Sita’s permission to snack on the luscious fruits in the garden before returning to Lord Rama with the good news.
