66697602-The-Ramayana-R-K-Narayan

determination to survive because I was told my redemption
would come when I heard the name of Rama uttered within
my earshot.”
When he said this, Hanuman and his men cried in one
voice, “Victory to Rama!” At this the creature underwent a
transformation: his feathers grew again and his wings
became large enough to lift him in the skies, and he
developed into a most majestic bird. When he found that
Hanuman and his followers were in despair about finding
Sita, he said, “Ravana went this way with Sita. I saw him
carrying Sita off to Lanka, which is farther south, and he has
imprisoned her there. You will have to cross the sea
somehow, and find out her whereabouts. Do not be
disheartened by this expanse of water before you. You will
ultimately succeed in your mission. Now I must take leave of
you; our tribe is without a leader since Jatayu is dead. I must
take on his duties.” Saying this, Sampathi floated up and
flew away.
After Sampathi left, they conferred among themselves as
to how the sea was to be crossed, which they felt an utterly
hopeless task to attempt, until Jambavan spoke once again.
He said to Hanuman, “You are the only one who is fit to cross
the sea and carry the message of hope to Sita.” He
explained, “You are unaware of your own stature. That is a
part of a curse laid on you long ago by your father—that you
should be ignorant of both the depths of your learning and