Snubbing Śuka and Sārana, Rāvana expels them from his court and dispatches Śārdūla and other ogres for espionage. Captured by the monkeys, the ogres are thrashed by them and get released by Śrī Rāma. Returning to Lankā, they too speak to Rāvana about the army of monkeys.

Śuka completes the account given by Sārana.

Mentioning the names of other monkey-generals, Sārana proceeds to describe their individual valour.

Climbing up the roof of his palace on hearing the submission of Sārana and surveying the entire army of monkeys, Rāvana inquires about the monkey leadersand Sārana shows to him Hanumān and others alongwith their distinguishing marks.

On Śrī Rām having crossed over to the other side of the sea, Rāvana commands his ministers, Śuka and Sārana, to enter the enemyís ranks and tell him everything about them. Detected while doing the work of a spy, they are captured by Vibhīsana, but let go by Śrī Rām. Going back to Rāvana, they exhort the latter to hand over Sītā to Śrī Rāma.

Beholding Lanka and applauding it, nay, drawing up his army in battle array, Śrī Rāma orders the release of Śuka (a spy of Rāvana), who was captured earlier and kept under detention by the monkeys. Going back to Rāvana the ogre speaks to him about the military strength of Śrī Rāma. Infuriated by this report, Rāvana vauntingly harps on his own prowess.

Śrī Rāma speaks of evil portents to Laksmana

Seized with terror to see a missile presided over by Brahmā (the creator) fitted to his bow by Śrī Rāma in fury, and appearing in person with joined palms, the sea- god undertakes to sustain on his bosom a bridge to be constructed by Nala, and goes out of sight. Nala accordingly builds a bridge across the sea.

When the sea did not, even when requested, allow a passage to Śrī Rāma, who was keen to cross it, nor did the sea-god care to appear in person before him, Śrī Rāma discharges fierce arrows which cause a stir among the creatures inhabiting the sea and make the sea-water overflow.

Told by an ogre, Śārdūla by name, that an army of monkeys led by Sugrīva was advancing towards Lankā, Rāvana dispatched an ogre, Śuka by name, as an envoy to carry his message to Sugrīva. While commencing to deliver the message to Sugrīva, Śuka is captured by the monkeys; but Śrī Rāma causes him to be set free and he delivers the message to Sugrīva.