RamayanaKishkindha Kanda: The book of Kishkindha
Kishkindha Kanda of the Ramayana (the book of kishkindha): a summary of the story in plain words, book 4 of 7: The friendship with Sugriva and the search for Sita.
Rama and Lakshmana reach the mountain Rishyamukha, where they meet Hanuman, the minister of the exiled monkey king Sugriva. Rama and Sugriva make a pact of friendship: Rama will win back Sugriva's kingdom from his brother Vali, and Sugriva will help find Sita. Rama shoots Vali, who has taken Sugriva's wife and kingdom, from behind a tree, an act that Vali questions as he dies, and which later tellers debate. Sugriva is crowned, but he forgets his promise through the rainy season until Lakshmana reminds him. The monkey armies go out in all directions to search for Sita. Hanuman, with Angada and Jambavan, reaches the southern shore of the sea, where the old vulture Sampati tells them that Sita is in Lanka across the sea. Jambavan reminds Hanuman of his strength.
This is book 4 of the seven books (kandas) of the Ramayana. See all seven and the characters.
Read next
A retelling in our own words of a story that is told in many different ways across India and Asia. Tellers differ on many episodes; where it matters we say so. It is not a scholarly translation.