Hanuman with Jambavana and Angad meet Sampati, the elder brother of Jatayu

The search for Sita proved long and difficult. The Kishkindha verse of the Ramayana is filled with the accounts of when the monkey king-chief Sugriva, befriended by Rama, that fanned out in all directions but kept returning without finding a clue. While searching for Sita Angad , Hanuman accompanied by the bear chief, the noble Jambavana meets they great vulture Sampati, who lived in a hollow in the sprawling Vindhya Mountains. Sampati told the news of Sita saying he had seen some-time back a demon king, flying through the air with a beautiful princess, who was weeping and shouting for Rama to come and save her. He had no idea of who the unfortunate woman was, but now hearing from monkeys whom they sought in this wilderness, he knew.

The miniature is painted within a yellow margin decorated with foliage which is set with a plain red border. The big bird, Sampati, is neatly placed in the middle of the painting, above the rock shelters. On the other side are Hanuman, Jambavana and Angad, all splendidly crowned and attired. Clearly some conversation is in the progress. A thick white band on top above the flat grey background demarcating the clouds and the curved horizon line are typical of the Malwa style. Fine line is evident here in animal figures, indicative of a stylistic change that was to become more refined as the century progressed.