Having been held captive against her will for four months, Sita is beginning to give up hope of Sri Ram rescuing her. Although she isn’t mistreated by Ravan, the pain of separation from her beloved begins to take its toll. She slowly loses her appetite and withdraws into herself. She eats very little and sits in silence, while the ogresses around try to break her psychologically. Upon observing Sita, Hanuman notices that a veil of sorrow and depression shadows her natural, serene beauty. She cries over the cruelty of the ogresses, over the longing for her beloved Sri Ram, and over the cruel twist of fate that has led her to this despondent state. Sita has resigned to the idea that her beloved Ram will not be able to find her, but her devotion to him is unfaltering. She refuses to even remotely consider Ravan’s advances. This leads her to believe that her only option lies in taking her own life. At the very moment, the unbeknown messenger of Sri Ram appears in front of her.Hanuman approaches Sita in a small form, as a child towards his mother. This brings out her maternal instincts and lowers her suspicion that the monkey could be another one of Ravan’s elaborate deceptions. Hanuman proceeds to recite the entire story of Sri Ram in order to convince her that he is a messenger of the prince. He also gives her Sri Ram’s ring that he has carried with him, as proof of his designation. Hanuman rekindles life in Sita as he delivers the message of Sri Ram’s imminent arrival. This completely rejuvenates Sita from despondency to hope. The message of Sita’s beloved is perfectly timed, giving her strength to endure her captivity a while longer.The lord can lift us when we feel despondent and lost, provided we remain totally devoted to him. We must always remember, especially during times of hardship, that “This too shall pass”.