it, we came upon sun-shine and beheld a beautiful palace.  It was, O Raghava, the abode of the Daitya Maya.  And there we beheld a female ascetic named Prabhavati engaged in ascetic austerities.  And she gave us food and drink of various kinds.  And having refreshed ourselves therewith and regained our strength, we proceeded along the way shown by her.  At last we came out of the cavern and beheld the briny sea, and on its shores, the Sahya, the Malaya and the great Dardura mountains.  And ascending the mountains of Malaya, we beheld before us the vast ocean.[91] And beholding it we felt sorely grieved in mind.  And dejected in spirits and afflicted with pain and famishing with hunger, we despaired of returning with our lives.  Casting our eyes on the great ocean extending over many hundreds of Yojanas and abounding in whales and alligators and other aquatic animals, we became anxious and filled with grief.  We then sat together, resolved to die there of starvation.  And in course of conversation we happened to talk of the vulture Jatayu.  Just then we saw a bird huge as a mountain, of frightful form, and inspiring terror into every heart, like a second son of Vinata.[92] And coming upon us unawares for devouring us, he said, ’Who are ye that are speaking thus of my brother Jatayu?  I am his elder brother, by name Sampati, and am the king of birds.  Once upon a time, we two, with the desire of outstripping each other, flew towards the sun.  My wings got burnt, but those of Jatayu were not.  That was the last time I saw my beloved brother Jatayu, the king of vultures!  My wings burnt, I fell down upon the top of this great mountain where I still am!’ When he finished speaking, we informed him of the death of his brother in a few words and also of this calamity that hath befallen thee!  And, O king, the powerful Sampati heating this unpleasant news from us, was greatly afflicted and again enquired of us, saying, ’Who is this Rama and why was Sita carried off and how was Jatayu slain?  Ye foremost of monkeys I wish to hear everything in detail!’ We then informed him of everything about this calamity of thine and of the reason also of our vow of starvation.  That king of birds then urged us (to give up our vow) by these words of his:  ’Ravana is, indeed, known to me.  Lanka is his capital.  I beheld it on the other side of the sea in a valley of the Trikuta hills!  Sita must be there.  I have little doubt of this!’ Hearing these words of his, we rose up quickly and began, O chastiser of foes, to take counsel of one another for crossing the ocean!  And when none dared to cross it, I, having recourse to my father, crossed the great ocean which is a hundred Yojanas in width.  And having slain the Rakshasis on the waters, I saw the chaste Sita within Ravana’s harem, observing ascetic austerities, eager to behold her lord, with matted locks on head, and body besmeared with filth, and lean, and melancholy and helpless.  Recognising her as Sita by those unusual signs, and approaching