Having leapt from the coast of Lankā and touching the Maināka mountain, which he came across in the way, nay, advancing further, Hanumān roars at the top of his voice at the sight of the Mahendra mountain in order to bring joy to the monkeys awaiting his return there. Jāmbavān tells the monkeys, who got up impetuously on hearing the roar, that Hanumān has returned successful from his expedition as was evident from his jubilant roar. Having greeted Jāmbavān and others on alighting on the summit of the Mahendra mountain, Hanumån narrates to them in a nutshell the story of his discovery of Sītā. Applauding Hanumān, Prince Angada, who was eager to hear the story, sits down to do so on an extensive flat rock alongwith all.

Hanumān sees Sītā once more and bidding adieu to her, takes a leap across the sea.

Seeing the whole of Lankā reduced to ashes and presuming Sītā too to have shared its lot, Hanumān begins to reproach himself and gets overwhelmed with grief. In the meantime, he hears of her safety from the lips of Siddhas, Cāranas (celestial bards) and others and feels comforted.

Making up his mind to set fire to the city of Lankā, which was the only work left for him to do, and coming out into the open, Hanumān burns the entire city barring the abode of Vibhīsana. Astonished to see the city burning, the gods and Gandharvas (celestial musicians) are filled with supreme joy.

Wrapping up the tail of Hanumān in rags and soaking it in oil, and then lighting it up, the ogres, as urged by Rāvana, take Hanumān round the city to the accompaniment of beat of drums. Hearing this news from the lips of the ogresses, Sītā prays to the god of fire on oath to see that Hanumān remains unscathed. Climbing up the gate and shedding the fire by attenuating his body, and then resuming vast proportions and seizing the iron bar of the gate, Hanumān kills with it the ogres guarding the gate.

Provoked by the harsh words of Hanumān, Rāvana orders him to be put to death. Vibhīsana, however, exhorts the latter to desist from this dastardly act, pointing out that the killing of an envoy is forbidden by the Śāstras.

Narrating the story of Śrī Rāma from the latterís entry into the forest, to his own sight of Sītā being borne away by Rāvana through the air over the Rsyamūka mountain, and celebrating the glory of Śrī Rāma, Hanumān points out to Rāvana that if he longed to survive he should restore Sītā to Śrī Rāma and that he should be prepared for the worst if, on the other hand, he chooses not to part with her.

Commanded by Rāvana, Prahasta inquires of Hanumån as to who he was as also his motive in devastating the royal pleasance and killing the ogres. In reply Hanumān says that he destroyed the grove in order that he might be taken captive and dragged to the presence of Rāvana, whom he was eager to see, and was compelled in self-defence to kill those who stood in his way. In the end he declares himself to be a messenger of Śrī Rāma and adds that, though protected against the missile presided over by Brahmā, he submitted to its influence only in order to be able to see Rāvana.

Wonderstruck to behold the splendour and glory of Rāvana, Hanumān believes that he could even rule over heaven but for his gross unrighteousness, which dragged him down.

Dispatched by Rāvana, Indrajit, Rāvana’s eldest son, marches against Hanumān. On his shafts being rendered ineffective by Hanumān through his extreme agility, Indrajit takes him captive by discharging the unfailing missile presided over by Brahmā (the creator). Even though capable of rendering it ineffective, Hanumān yields to its influence, eager as he was to meet Rāvana, to whose presence he is led by his son.