The Strangest Army Ever
Monkeys, bears, a squirrel rolling in sand. Rama didn't care who you were. If you wanted to help, you were welcome.
Rama needed an army to cross the ocean and rescue Sita. He did not have soldiers. He did not have horses. He did not have a fleet of ships. What he had was monkeys, bears, and one tiny squirrel. He welcomed every single one of them. Together, they built a bridge across the sea, and the squirrel got the most beautiful gift of all.
A Prince With No Army
In the forest of Kishkindha, in the south of India, a prince was sitting by a small fire. He was tired. His feet were dusty. His clothes had been torn by thorns. His eyes were red from not sleeping. The prince was Rama.
He had walked for many, many days. He was looking for Sita, his wife, who had been kidnapped by the demon king Ravana and carried far across the ocean to a place called Lanka. Old Jatayu, the brave eagle from the last lesson, had given his life trying to stop the kidnapping. Now Rama had to finish what Jatayu had started.
There was just one small problem. Rama had no army.
He was not a king right now. He was a banished prince in a forest. He had no soldiers. He had no horses. He had no chariots. He did not even have a single boat to cross the ocean.
What he did have was his brother Lakshmana, his bow, and his determination.
And that, it turned out, was enough. Because help was about to come from the strangest places.
A Monkey Named Hanuman
The first to come was a monkey.
His name was Hanuman. He had a long tail, a kind face, and the strongest arms in the world. (You will hear all about him in the very next chapter, so do not worry.) Hanuman bowed to Rama and said, "My king Sugriva and our whole monkey kingdom will help you find Sita."
Rama looked at Hanuman. He did not say, "You are a monkey, what use are you?" He did not say, "I need humans, not animals."
He folded his hands and said, "Welcome, my friend."
That is the first thing you should know about Rama. He never asked who you were. He only asked if you wanted to help.