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## The Ashtapashta Parva (Chapter 269)
Hanuman, seeing Ravana, who was like a blue mountain adorned with the waves of the Ganga, with his victorious banners flying, and who had made all his enemies weep, thought: "Oh, what a strange consequence of this sinner's deeds! Driven by his desire for another man's wife, he has violated Dharma."
"Indeed, Narada had said that he would die an untimely death. Thinking this, Hanuman did not see Sita in Ravana's assembly."
"The sun's rays grew dim, the day was declining, and the sun, as if giving Ravana a message, was setting in the west. He thought: 'Those who are helpers in the world usually help those who are wealthy. And all beings in the world rise and fall according to a fixed order.'"
"Thinking thus, the messenger of Rama, Hanuman, climbed the western gate of the inner palace and saw the forest called Nandana. It was like the Nandana forest, adorned with the sounds of bees, with the beauty of all seasons, with beautiful trees laden with fruits and flowers, with fragrant pollen of various flowers carried by the gentle breeze, with artificial mountains, lakes, wells, and arbors adorned with creepers, and with other places that aroused desire. Seeing all this, Hanuman stood there for a while, filled with joy and curiosity."
"There, in a nearby place, he saw Sita. She was surrounded by many Vidyaadharis who were skilled in various arts and who were trying to subdue her. She was sitting under a Shimshapa tree, overwhelmed with grief, meditating silently, striving to protect her family even in death or old age, and she seemed like a garland of chastity and virtue. Seeing her, Hanuman thought: 'This is the same Sita whom Ravana has abducted.' He recognized her by the signs given by King Rama and thought: 'It is because of my good fortune that I have been blessed with the sight of this virtuous woman.' He was filled with love at the sight of her. He thought: 'Just as a creeper is scorched by fire, so this virtuous woman has been scorched by the wicked Ravana.' Though his heart was filled with grief, he was wise in the ways of Dharma."