Episode 6 - Anjaneya considers the consequences of the failure of his mission

Anjaneya continued to look for Sita in the nooks and corners of the palace. Not finding her anywhere, he thought that she had been killed by Ravana, the evil-doer, as she would not stray from the path of virtue and yield to him. Or she must have died at the very sight of the Rakshasis, with their frightening appearance, with wicked faces and ugly and misplaced eyes and devoid of any semblance of brightness about them.

The consequences of the failure of his mission appeared to be disastrous to Anjaneya. He reflected: “I have surveyed the entire palace of Ravana and failed to find Sita. There is no way I can go back to Sugriva, the Vanara King, along with my team-mates. The king is very strong and has a system of severe punishment. When I return to the other side of the ocean, my friends will anxiously question me as to what I have done here. What answer can I find? If I do not go back to them, they are sure to commit suicide, by entering the fire.”

Anajaneya, however, paused and reflected: “I ought not to be overtaken by grief. This is the quality – the avoidance of despair – that will spur man to action and be responsible for his happiness and growth. Therefore, I will go round and round the entire palace again and again.” So thinking, Anjaneya searched every inch of the palace once again, but in vain. He was again grief-stricken.