Sundara Kanda, the Book of Beauty, follows Hanuman alone as he leaps across the ocean strait separating India from Ravana's island kingdom of Lanka, growing to enormous size to make the crossing and surviving trials along the way, including a sea-monster who tests his resolve and a mountain that offers him rest he politely declines, determined not to delay his mission. Once in Lanka, disguised and moving unseen through Ravana's palace, he finds Sita held captive in the Ashoka grove, refusing every threat and temptation Ravana offers to make her his queen, and reveals himself to her by presenting Rama's signet ring as proof of his mission, delivering a message of hope and receiving in return a jewel to carry back as proof he had truly found her.
Captured after deliberately allowing himself to be caught in order to assess Ravana's court and strength directly, Hanuman has his tail set on fire as punishment, but uses the burning tail to set much of Lanka ablaze before making his escape and leaping back across the ocean to deliver the news of Sita's location, setting the stage for the war to come. Before revealing himself, Hanuman watches Sita from concealment for some time, wanting to be certain he has found the right woman and that his approach will not frighten or endanger her, a small but telling detail of the caution the text gives even its most physically extraordinary character.