The March to the Sea

Following Rama's command, Sugriva immediately ordered his army to prepare, and without delay, the troops set out toward Lanka. The monkeys' joy knew no bounds. They leaped from tree to tree, wagging their tails in delight and excitement. They feasted on fruits and nectar, their morale soaring. They covered the journey of several miles with ease, camping by rivers and lakes, crossing forests and mountains, and moving steadily forward.

The monkey army roared like the ocean as they marched behind Rama and Lakshmana. Two soldiers carried Rama and Lakshmana on their shoulders. Amid the monkey soldiers, Rama and Lakshmana looked majestic, like the sun and the moon. As the army advanced, dust rose to the sky, forming a cloud that seemed to obscure the sun.

Driven by the desire to rescue Sita as quickly as possible, the soldiers marched day and night. They soon reached the Sahay mountain, abundant with fruits and flowers. Various animals roamed the hills. Sugriva ordered the soldiers to rest, and they complied. The monkey army was thrilled to see the ocean's waves rising and falling.

However, the swift-moving army was halted at the ocean's edge. The vast expanse of water presented a formidable barrier to the brave and energetic monkey soldiers ready to annihilate Ravana and his forces. Seeing this, Rama felt dejected. He worried about Sita's fate, unable to conceive of a way to cross the ocean.

Meanwhile, since Hanuman had burned down Lanka, Ravana remained apprehensive. He began discussing a potential attack by Rama and Sugriva with his advisors. Most of Ravana's advisors were sycophants who started praising his valor and power. They assured him that Rama was neither skilled in battle nor brave and that he, the king of Lanka, would easily defeat Rama.

Ravana was engaged in formulating an appropriate strategy for the battle. He wanted his army to be well-prepared to face Rama. Ravana believed that consultation and strategy were crucial to winning a war. He considered his advisors intelligent and tactful and wished to consult them. He knew that Rama, along with lakhs of monkey soldiers, would find a way to cross the ocean and reach Lanka.