The Rāmāyaṇa of Vālmīki: An Epic of Ancient India, Volume V

The fifth and most popular book of the Ramayana of Valmiki, the Sundarakanda , recounts the adventures of the monkey hero Hanuman in leaping across the ocean to the island citadel of Lanka. Once there, he scours the city for the abducted Princess Siti. The poet vividly describes the opulence of the court of the demon king, Ravana, the beauty of his harem, and the hideous deformity of Sita's wardresses. After witnessing Sita's stern rejection of Ravana's blandishments, Hanuman reveals himself to