The Ramayana narrates that Sita - the wife of Rama, prince of Ayodhya and avatar of the god Vishnu - was kidnapped by Ravana, the rakshasa (demon) king of Lanka.

Nala volunteers for the task and also comments that the arrogance of the Ocean (Varuna) was tamed by Rama with a threat when love had failed.

The vanaras fell mighty trees, and collect logs of wood and giant boulders and cast them in the sea.

The tale justifying this power states that in their youth, these monkeys were very mischievous and used to throw the murtis (holy images) worshipped by the sages in the water.

[9] Telugu and Bengali adaptations of the Ramayana as well as Javanese shadow plays narrate about an argument between Nala and Hanuman.

Hanuman is pacified by Rama who explains him that is the tradition of workers to take from the left hand and place the object by the right.

[11] The Kamba Ramayana portrays Nala also in charge of creating living quarters for the army of Rama in Lanka.

He creates a city of tents of gold and gems for the army; but builds a simple house of bamboo and wood and grass beds for himself.