Having passed the night on the summit of the Suvela mountain, the commanders of simian troops entered the parks and gardens in the outskirts of Lankā, which were laden with blossom etc., while others make their way into Lankā itself. Śrī Rāma, however, feels amazed to behold from the mountain-top Lankā, which was charming in every respect.

Climbing up the Suvela mountain in consultation with and in the company of Laksmana and Vibhīsana as well as of Sugrīva and others, Śrī Rāma surveys the city from that vantage-ground. The eminent heroes among the monkeys too, who were eager to fight, roar at the top of their voice and spend the night on the mountain itself with Śrī Rāma.

While, on reaching the precincts of Lankā, Śrī Rāma and Sugrīva as well as other monkeys headed by Hanumån were deliberating as to how to achieve success in their expedition, Vibhīsana apprises them of the arrangements made by Rāvana at the four gates for the defence of Lankā, as reported to him by his four ministers, who had entered Lankā in the disguise of birds and witnessed everything with their own eyes. Śrī Rāma too after detailing monkeys to storm the four gates climbs up the Suvela mountain with his army.

Deriding the exhortation of Mālyavān, even though conducive to his good, nay, holding consultation with his ministers and detailing Prahasta (the Commander-in-Chief) and others to guard the four main gates against the inroads of the enemy, Rāvana complacently retires into his gynaeceum.

Observing in Lankā evil portents and startling phenomena foreboding the destruction of ogres, Mālyavān exhorts Rāvana to make peace with Śrī Rāma.

Urged by Sītā, Saramā discloses to her the definite plans of Rāvana devised by him in consultation with his ministers.

Saramā reassures Sītā by telling her that the head brought before her was not of Śrī Rāma, who was alive and would soon be able to see her, and asks her not to be afraid.

Sītā bursts into a wail at the sight of Śrī Rāma’s head and bow, when Rāvana is abruptly called away by an emissary and after consultation with his ministers prepares his forces for action against the army of Śrī Rāma.

Perturbed to learn from the spies sent by him that Śrī Rāma had taken up his position near the Suvela mountain, Rāvana takes counsel with his ministers and, after dismissing them, approaches Sītā with Vidyujjihva, who was a past master in conjuring tricks. Telling her how her husband had been killed by him with his entire army, he produces before her as an evidence the counterfeit head of Śrī Rāma brought by Vidyujjihva.

Dispatched by Rāvana to ascertain the strength of the simian army, the ogre Śārdūla acquaints his master with the topmost leaders of the monkeys.