Sri Rama forgave Saagara. He understood that the laws of nature had to be respected. The troops collected logs and trunks of trees, boulders and rocks and began to work with guidance from Nala and Neela. For five days they dragged and pushed and pulled till they had built a bridge that was supported by Saagara. When the bridge was complete, it was eighty miles wide and eight hundred miles long. The vanaras celebrated its completion and the movement of troops began across it. Hanuman carried Rama on his shoulders and Angad carried Lakshmana as the whole army of Sugreeva surged like a huge wave across the bridge. In Lanka, Ravana’s grandfather, Malyavan, looked at the army crossing the bridge and spoke to Ravana, “How soon the army of monkeys and bears have built the bridge! Ravana, make peace with your enemy.” But Ravana thought this was the advice of a weak old man and rejected it.
Building a Bridge
