Far above Lanka like a swan dipping into dark waters, shimmering like a cluster of white lilies rode the moon casting its light on the earth below, as if to aid Hanuman in his search. In that soft glow the Vanara messenger from Kishkinda saw the horrific forms that watched over Sita. Many were their shapes, different their hue and grotesque their bodies which evoked fear in their beholders. Hunch-backed and misshapen, with pendulous stomachs, protruding teeth and distorted faces, some among those masses had no ears, while some had pointed ears and the others had large enough ears to cover their heads! Noses were either large as elephant trunks or short snouts on top of their heads. Some had heads like those of elephant, horse, boar, dog or swine while some had feet like those of a donkey, camel, cow, elephant or horse. Knotty chins sported bristly hair, bald pates were bereft of any while coarse black hair completely covered some. Afflicted with every disfigurement, armed with clubs, maces and more roamed the grisly legions. Never satiated and ever hungry, gorging on piles of flesh and pots of wine, their nature was cruel and their flesh eating blood drinking traits demonic. Among that rabble sat Sita, a captive of Ravana, lord of the rakshasas. Haunted by fear, looking around like a startled deer, her hot sighs threatened to scorch the tender leaves of trees. Stripped of all her jewels, decked only in her love for Rama she wept in her lonely sorrow. Though her radiance had paled, clothes soiled and hair unkempt, there was about her an unshakeable conviction that Rama's might one day free her.Hanuman beheld that embodiment of patience and beauty, who though bereft of all finery was still beautiful, because her slender golden limbs were more ornamental than any jewel! His eyes brimmed with tears of joy for having at last found Sita. Mentally prostrating to Rama in gratitude, he moved deeper into the shadows to keep away from prying eyes.