203. Hanuman searches the palaces of Ravana and others.

         In the course of his search for Seetha, Hanuman noticed yonder a palace shining with the golden hue of the sun, surrounded by a compound wall and guarded by horrible and ferocious  rakshasas, like a forest by rapacious lions. That palace had a surprising number of archways decorated with silver and gold, strange but captivating  entrances with beautiful doors. It was also guarded by men on elephants, warriors devoid of tiredness, drivers of elephants, insuperable horses, and by charioteers. Guards with protective shields made of the skins of lion and tiger, decorated with ivory, gold and silver, were roaming by strange chariots which were making great fearsome sound.

       Hanuman further observed that palace was filled with a lot of diamond studded seats and utensils, abode of great warriors with great chariots. Filled all around with various kinds of lovely and beautiful animals and birds in thousands it was well protected by well trained rakshasas, and the inner area filled all over by attractive and important women. Hanuman noted that all those women were very happy and enjoying their life there and roaming joyously with the tinkling of the beautiful jewellery they were wearing creating a sound like that of an ocean. 

           Hanuman noted that the roof of that wealthy palace was embedded with top quality diamonds. He concluded in his mind that the palace, which was shining with its form filled with elephants, horses, chariots, etc. to be the jewel of Lanka. He correctly surmised that the palace was that of Ravana.

         Hanuman moved about from one house to another of the Rakshasas and also parks and courtyards. He looked in the houses of Prahasta and Mahaparshva. Thereafter he looked into the house of Kumbhakarna which resembled a cloud. Then he looked into the house of Vibhishana. Thereafter he covered the houses of Mahodara, Virupaaksha, Viddutjihva, Suka, Sarana and Indrajit.

        Then Hanuman looked into the houses of Jambumali, Sumali,  Rasmiketu, Suryaketu, Vajrakaaya, jumumrah, Sampati,  Vidhudrupa, Bhiima,  Ghana, Vighana, Sukhana, Vakra, Satha, Vikata,   Brahmakarna,  Damshra,  Roma,  Raksha, Ydhonmata, Indrajihva,   Hastimuka,  Karala, Pisacha and the building of Shonita.

     The indomitable son of Vayu was relentlessly checking in sequence the palaces of all rakshasas. Then he reached the house of Ravana. Hanuman cautiously entered into that palace and found some rakshasies sleeping near Ravana. Hanuman was astonished and horrified to see some of those rakshashies had horrific eyes, some had spear in their hands, some were holding in their hands some kind of grass, some were holding javelin and some were holding lance. He saw in that house of Ravana a variety of army divisions and also Rakshasas  who had huge bodies having different weapons.

      Hanuman in that house found horses in red, white and slightly whitish complexion. He noted that all of them were capable of great intrepidity. He also saw elephants of good breed with good appearance capable of harassing enemy's elephants, skilled in good elephant training. They all seemed to be as capable as Iraavata (personal elephant of Indra) and seemed to be capable of killing enemy armies, rutting like raining clouds, like mountains with water falls that are pouring down, with trumpeting resembling thundering of clouds, unassailable by enemies.

           Hanuman observed in the palace of Ravana palanquins of various shapes, wonderful bowers, art galleries and other pleasure houses which were constructed with wooden mountains, for sexual delight. 

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202. Hanuman continues his probe for Seetha.

          Hanuman noticed that the brightly shining moon in the sky was straight above his head thereby spreading the maximum  illumination of moon shine. And the moon looked like a bull in heat among cows. The full moon with its horn like spot shone like a sharp horned ox standing with a high hump, like a great white mountain with tall summits, like an elephant with golden tusks.
       Hanuman heard lovely musical notes pleasing to ears played from stringed instruments. Women with good character were sleeping with husbands.

          Hanuman saw houses with people in heat, houses filled with people, full chariots, horses, elephants and top-class furniture. Hanuman felt that the city was overflowing with immense wealth. He saw intoxicated rakshasas railing a lot at one another moving their heavy shoulders, throwing wild and incoherent words a lot, insulting one another.

      Hanuman was amused to see some rakshasas who smote breast, who threw limbs on women and who were displaying their intrepidity by sporting their strong bows. He saw some women applying sandal paste on their bodies and also some other women sleeping there. And some women with good appearance were smiling, and some other women were sighing in anger. Hanuman saw the city of Lanka was shining with great elephants making sound and also with gentlemen well respected, shone with warriors in a wresting bout, with long sighs, like serpents in a lake hissing. 

      Hanuman was also seeing people with good appearance who seemed to possess good virtues, as well as some who seemed to be according to their character, and as well as those who were radiant and happy.
       He also saw some of their women who obviously were born in the family of noble distinction. Hanuman saw also some women who looked brilliant with radiance, adorned a lot of bashfulness, and some who were hugged by lovers in the middle of night, and some who were hugged with great pleasure, and some who were hugged by flowers like birds. The intellectual Hanuman also saw some other women there comfortably sitting on the laps of their lovers, some at the top of their buildings, doing so on the laps of their dear  husbands and some other women interested in virtuous deeds alone, and some possessed by the lord of love. He also saw women with golden complexion lacking clothes, women with a complexion of refined gold suitable for mating and some other women also with the colour of moon and some other women with beautiful bodies lacking a lover. Thereafter that curious vanara warrior saw those with great happiness, those who obtained lovers who entertained, those who attracted like flowers, those with great beauty and women in their houses filled with happiness.

       Hanuman saw rows of faces shining like the moon, beautiful rows of eyes with curved eyebrows and rows of ornaments like beautiful rows of lighting. Alas! He did not see Seetha, one with great beauty born in a royal family following a virtuous path, well brought up, like a creeper in full blossom, one who was thin, and one who was born from the mind of the creator.

         Hanuman did not see that Seetha who stood in the path of ancient righteousness with her sight on Sri Rama, who was possessed by the love for Sri Rama, and always better than any woman who was considered  the best. 

      Hanuman did not see Seetha who was like a crescent with a blurred outline, like an arrow in an injury, like a series of clouds scattered by wind. He became a numb minded one for sometime, stricken with grief for not able to locate Seetha, wife of Sri Rama.

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201. Hanuman started his probe.

                 Hanuman started entering Lanka by placing deliberately his LEFT foot first. He did this because he had heard that if any one enters a house, a city or a country by placing his/her left foot will pronounce a very bad omen for that house, city or the country.  

          After moving a few cautious steps he heard various musical instruments being played. He also observed the movement of the guards. Avoiding them dexterously he entered the city at that night and took the grand road ahead shining by flowers and pearls. 

         He found the beautiful city shining like the cloudless sky. The beautiful  houses were rocking with the sounds of laughter and with sounds of musical instruments at the interior. He noticed that the houses were as strong as diamonds.The windows were decorated with diamonds. The city of Lanka was shining brilliantly with the well decorated houses of the Rakshasas. These were modern houses which looked like white clouds, and were in the shape of lotus and swastika both of which were auspicious.

         Going from one building to another, Hanuman observed that the buildings were in various shapes and forms on every side. Hanuman heard a sweet song which was decorated by the sound from the three svaras - Mandra, Madhya and Tara - of love borne women like Apsara women in heaven. Hanuman also heard there the sounds from the tinkling of ornaments worn around the waist of women as well as by some men in the houses of wealthy people, sounds of footfall over stair, sounds from clapping of arms by warriors and roar of ogres. Hanuman heard ritual chants muttered by rakshasas in their houses. He saw ogres engaged in the study of Vedas. He also saw roaring rakshasas who came together to praise Ravana. He saw many spies of Ravana and a big army of ogres which stood surrounding the royal highway in the central zone of the city. Hanuman noticed with amusement some rakshashas were initiated into various Vedic practices; some with matted locks on their head, some with shaven heads, some wearing cow hides, some were carrying Kusa grass as weapons, some had fire vessels as weapons, some carried hammers and clubs in their hands, some had worn staffs as weapons, some were one-eyed, some had one ear, some were pot-bellied and with hanging breast, some had horrible appearances, some with twisted mouths, some were horrific, some were very short, some carried bows and arrows, some carried swords, some carried pestles and clubs as weapons, some carried excellent iron mace in their hands, some with strange armour, some were not very fat, some were not too thin, some were neither tall nor short, some were not very fair, some were not very dark, some were not very hunchbacked, some were not very short, some had great brilliance, some carried banners, some carried flags and some carried different weapons. Hanuman saw many people, who had great might, who carried javelins and trees as weapons. Some carried spear with a sharp edge or some other weapon with three points, some carried thunderbolts, some carried in their hands sling and nooses, some carried flowered garlands, some wearing sandal paste and decorated with lovely jewellery, some had various kinds of appearances roaming freely at will. Hanuman noticed at the front of the inner city, a hundred thousand central protective force which was attentive and was strategically positioned. 

         Then Hanuman noticed an  amazingly wonderful golden doorway. He  presumed it to be the palace of Ravana. That lovely palace was on the top of a mountain. Motes filled with white lotuses surrounded it. It was also surrounded by a compound wall. He simply could not take his eyes away from that lavishing and opulent building. 

          Hanuman noted that the city looked like paradise, but rendered noisy by the neighing of horses and the tinkling of ornaments, by chariots, vehicles and aerial-cars. There were decorated auspicious elephants and horses and great elephants with four tusks. It had beautiful entrances and was protected by thousands of mighty rakshasas.

       Hanuman entered the inner city of Ravana without being spotted. He noted that it was filled with gold, had a golden court-yard, a central area decorated by pearls and diamonds of very top quality and sprinkled (obviously daily) with water containing aloe wood or Agalloch  [aromatic resin embedded wood] and sandal-wood.

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200. Hanuman vanquishes Lanka.

       Hanuman, the son of Vayu, one with great might, while waiting for the night to fall, was standing on the mountain called Lamba mustering courage to enter at night the city of Lanka with beautiful forests and places of water such as lakes. The city of Lanka was shining with buildings equaling autumnal clouds. With a sound resembling that of an ocean, it was served by ocean breeze. It was filled with well fed and mighty armies like Vitapati, the capital of Kubera. It had elephants positioned at archways and had white gates and archways. 
         When it became quite dark, Hanuman slowly and cautiously approached that city of Lanka which was protected by Rakshasas, like the auspicious city of Bhogavati being protected by serpents moving about, spread with cloud illumined by flashes of lightening, served by pathways of stars, with a light breeze like the Indra's city of Amaravati, surrounded by a wall with a golden hue, decorated by flags with sounds from groups of small bells.
      With every step towards that beautiful city, Hanuman became more and more surprised. At last he reached, without being detected, the doors which were of golden color, with platforms of cat's eye gems, inlaid with diamonds, crystals and pearls, embellished with floors of gems, graced with elephants made of refined gold, crowned with spotless white silver, stairs studded with cat's eye gems, with inside walls made of crystal free from dust, provided with lovely assembly halls, with sounds of Krauncha birds and peacocks, served by royal swans, looking as though flying toward the sky, with auspicious houses resounding everywhere with the sounds of clarionets and ornaments, equaling the city of Vasvaukasaara, as though flying towards the sky.

        Seeing all these things, Hanuman could not help thinking "It is not possible for anyone to conquest this city, which is being guarded by the strong armies of Ravana, by strength alone. This land may be conquerable by Kumuda, Angada,  the great vanara Sushena, Mainda or Dvivida. Perhaps also by the son of Sun God Sugreeva, the vanara Kusaparvana, the chief among vanaras Riksha and humble me." The thought of the long armed Sri Rama's tremendous strength and Lakshmana's formidable valour, made Hanuman happy.

         That city of the king of rakshasas seemed to Hanuman like a wealthy woman decorated with diamonds for her clothes, various storage houses as earrings and amouries for her breasts. Due to the lamps that illuminated the radiant great houses, all darkness vanished. As a result the guardian of that city spotted Hanuman trying to sneak into the city. Seeing that pint-sized Hanuman, that guardian of Lanka, called Lanka (I do not know whether she was the Miss Lanka then) rose up with a horrific appearance of face and eyes. She stood in front of the little Hanuman. She made a great sound and spoke to Hanuman "O! one who lives in gardens! Who are you? Why did you come here? Get it into your pea sized head that no one including someone your size could enter into this city of Lanka without my knowledge. Tell me the truth before I kill you."

    Hanuman told her "I certainly will tell you very truthfully everything. Before that please tell me who you are? O horrible one! I have not seen anyone with such an ugly face before! Why are you stopping and threatening me?"

     Suppressing her anger with great difficulty, Miss Lanka told Hanuman "As I am invincible, I have been asked by His Majesty to protect this city. I am one of the many servitors of the king of all rakshashas Ravana, the great. I am going to kill you for humiliating me."

       The son of Vayu then told Miss Lanka "I like to see the lovely city of Lanka with its palaces, defensive walls and archways. I came here for that purpose. I am very curious to see them. My arrival here is indeed to see Lanka's wonderful gardens, parks, forests and the magnificent and important houses all over."
      Listening to Hanuman's words, Lanka  spat out more harsh than before. "You lowly Vanara! I am not giving you permission to enter this city. Enter after defeating me, if you can."

      Then Hanuman replied politely "O auspicious one! Without seeing this city I cannot return to where I came from."
        Hearing that Miss Lanka got very angry and hit Hanuman soundly. The hit was so forceful even Hanuman became dizzy. It took a few moments for him to recover his senses. He wanted to send her to her creator. But she being a woman, though unthinkably ugly, he hit her back hard but bot very, with his folded fingers of his left hand. Surprisingly that ugly rakshashi fell down with a distressed writhing body and  a horrific face. A few moments later, Miss Lanka looking at Hanuman without any malice or pride and told him "So, you must be that vanara Brahma told me about. Brahma told me that when a vanara hits me without any fear then the end of Ravana and his rakshashas would not be far off.  Get propitiated and protect me. Those with great strength and courage always stand firm on tradition. I am the city of Lanka. I am now defeated by you. With your appearance now, the time has come for me. Ordinance of Brahma is the truth and is absolute and immutable. The end is not far off for Ravana the evil minded king and to all Rakshasas. Now you may enter the city of Lanka ruled by Ravana and do whatever tasks you want to. Enter the auspicious city of Lanka stuck by the curse, ruled by the king of Rakshasas. Roam everywhere and search for the chaste wife Seetha according to your comfort."

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199. Hanuman takes an unguided tour of Lanka.

       Hanuman was surprised to note that he was not a bit tired. On the other hand he was feeling more fit than ever. He was happily viewing the city of Lanka located on the peak of the Mount Trikuta. He was startled as something soft was falling on him. Oh! Rama! It was a rain of flowers released by the tree under which he was standing. He found himself shining like one made of flowers.

        Hanuman then started walking towards the city of Lanka. When he neared the city of Lanka ruled by Ravana, he found that city looked so beautiful, enchanting, alluring, enticing, fascinating and attractive. He wondered whether he had come to the city of Gods in heaven. The city was decorated by moats filled with lotuses and water-lilies, which were well protected.
      Rakshasas with horrifying voices roaming around that beautiful great city, which consisted of houses as high as mountains and they also looked like autumnal clouds. The roads were white and the main streets were elevated and decorated with flags and pennons. All the archways were decorated with golden hued material and adorned with sculpted rows of vines. He was absolutely enamoured of the city of Lanka with such beautiful white buildings situated on the top of a mountain like a city located in the sky. He remembered hearing (from his mom or dad or may be grandma) that the city of Lanka ruled by Ravana, the king of Rakshasas, was constructed by Visvakarma (architect of Gods), and it looked as though it were floating in the sky.

        Hanuman gaped at the city of Lanka which was touching the sky, seemed like the peak of Kailasa. He thought wryly that the city with lovely mansions, filled with horrible rakshasas and serpants like the city of Bhogavati (capital of Patala), was unfathomable, a well arranged and a clean city, was governed by Kubera in earlier times. Now it is protected by courageous and horrible serpents and Rakshasas with mouths with sharp teeth, with spikes and Pattisas (spears) in their hands. Seeing the very well protected city of Lanka, Hanuman thought "Assuming that our vanara force could (some how) come here, it doesn't seem possible for them to win over this mighty and very well protected place. It does not seem possible even for Devas to be victorious against Lanka in war. Even if Rama reaches this very difficult and impenetrable Lanka ruled by Ravana, what can he with mighty arms do? It does not seem to be possible to win over these rakshasas by persuasion, gifts, dissension or war. Only four Vanaras can come here - the son of Vali (Angada), Nila, myself and the wise king Sugriva. I will first find out if Seetha is alive. Then I will think of the next action."

      Hanuman then pondered "My God! This city is very well guarded and protected by these cruel and strong rakshasas. It would, therefore be foolish to go about in my normal guise. I would better dwindle myself to the size of hmm.. a cat. As an additional precaution I will start the search in the night."

       After the sun was set, Hanuman reduced his body to the size of a cat. Then with confidence but very cautiously he started to probe the beautiful city of Lanka with well divided main pathways. He saw that the great city filled with series of mansions, golden hued pillars and window lattices was emulating the city of Gandharvas.  All its buildings were seven or eight storied with their top portions studded with crystals and pearls and decorated with gold.

      The houses of rakshasas shone with the top portions painted by cats-eyes and emeralds and decorated by groups of pearls. Golden archways with strange hues illuminated the well decorated city of Lanka in all directions.  He saw that the city of Lanka of great fame, with white, closely built buildings having golden windows and doorways of great value, consisting of ogres of great strength and ruled by the strong hands of Ravana. As if to help Hanuman in his search, the moon started to shine brightly. 

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198. Hanuman's journey to Lanka.

                    Book V : Sundara Kanda

         Hanuman was traveling in the sky where celestials like chaaranas dread, to search for Seetha, who was taken away by Ravana. Hanuman was determined to perform a deed done by no one else. 

    That great vanara also thought himself equal to Garuda, the king of birds. While he was flying up, all trees on that mountain flew away in all directions, drawing together all their branches.

     While flying in the sky, he took along with him, due to the the force of his thighs, trees shining with flowers and fattened lapwing birds. The trees thus being held aloft by the speed of his thighs, followed him for a while just as relatives would follow their loved ones embarking on a long journey.

       Uprooted by the force of Hanuman's thighs, Sal and other excellent trees followed Hanuman like soldiers following their king. Hanuman the great vanara presented a wonderful sight, with his mountain-like appearance together with the well flowered trees.
            After that, powerful trees sank into the salty ocean like mountains sinking into the ocean due to fear of Mahendra. Hanuman who was floating like  a cloud, covered with flowers of various kinds, shoots and buds, shone like a mountain with fireflies. Those trees which were released by Hanuman's speed, dropped flowers and fell down in the water like friends going back after bidding farewell to their dear one. Set in motion by the wind from the movement of Hanuman, variety of blossoms, with various hues, from the trees fell down into the sea making that great ocean shine like the sky filled with stars.

        Hanuman was shining like a cloud in the sky decorated with flowers of various hues sticking to his body. That sea water looked like the sky with delightful stars rising up, with flowers flown up by Hanumans speed. That sky-borne Hanuman's arms which were spread out, were seen like five-headed serpents coming out of a mountain's peak.

       That great vanara shone like one who was drinking the great sea together with its waves. He also seemed like one who desired to drink the whole of the sky. The eyes of Hanuman, who was following the path of the sky, which had a brilliance equal to that of lightening, were shining like two fires on a mountain.

         The round, wide, reddish brown eyes of Hanuman were shining like fully risen sun and moon. The ruddy face of Hanuman, with a tinge of reddish hue was shining like the Sun touched by twilight.
      That great vanara Hanuman, with his red colored buttocks, shone like a mountain with a large deposit of red Gairika herb broken into pieces.

    Air passing through his arm pits sounded like a thundering cloud. Hanuman flying thus in the sky, looked like a meteor darting away with great speed in the sky from the northern direction. With a fast pace equaling that of Sun god, the tall Hanuman was shining like an elephant.

      The shadow of Hanuman in the sea below looked like a boat being driven by wind. Whatever place Hanuman went towards on the ocean, that place became agitated due to the force of his thighs.

       Wind from the mighty Hanuman and the wind released from the clouds caused the ocean with a fearful sound to shake a lot.

       Hanuman flew in the sky dragging along with him huge waves from the ocean as though he was sprinkling them from the sky.

       Serpents living in the sea seeing Hanuman flying in the sky thought that it was Garuda, the king of birds. Hanuma's shadow which was ten yojanas wide and thirty yojanas long appeared very beautiful on water.

     His shadow following Hanuman and spread on the ocean, was shining like a series of dense white clouds. He the great vanara shone like a mountain flying in the sky without any support underneath. In whatever path Hanuman went, there appeared  immediately  a trough in the ocean below.

      Hanuman while gliding through the path of birds like the king of birds Garuda, dragged with him series of clouds, like the god of wind. Great clouds with white, red, blue and madder colors shone on being dragged by Hanuman.

        Hanuman who was repeatedly entering and leaving series of clouds as he flies in the sky, was seen like the moon who shines and hides behind a cloud alternately. Seeing the fast moving Hanuman in the sky, Devas, Gandharvas and Danavas showered flowers on him.

     Sun did not scorch Hanuman, as he was flying for Rama. The wind god Vayu caressed him with a delightful breeze. Sages praised the great resplendent Hanuman flying in the sky. Devas and Gandharvas sang in his praise. Nagas, Yakshas, Devas and birds praised him.

      Seeing Hanuman flying above him, the god of ocean thought "If I do not help this great vanara Hanuman, I shall become prone to all kinds of ill-talk by one and all against me. I was developed by Sagara of Ikshvaaku dynasty. This Hanuman who is helping a descendant of that dynasty should not become tired. I have to behave in such a way that Hanuman would take rest. After resting on me for a while, he can cross the remaining distance with comfort."

        With that end in view, Samundra spoke to Mainaka, the mountain with gold in the middle, hidden in water "O my dear Mainaka! You have been positioned here by Devendra as an obstacle to the groups of asuras living in paataala. You are standing at the entrance of paataala which is difficult to measure, fully covering it, preventing any asura trying to rise up again. O mountain, you have the capability to grow wide, up or down. Please raise up. Hanuman, the great vanara is going to Lanka for Rama. While flying in the sky he is coming over you.

        "To this Hanuman, who is a follower of the Ikshvaaku dynasty, help should be given by me now. Descendants of Ikshvaaku are respectable to me. They are even more respectable to you. Help us. Our task may not be miscarried. A task which needs to be performed and not done, will increase the anger of good people. Raise up above from the water. This Hanuman is a guest to be worshiped by us. Let him stand on you for a while for rest.

       "O mountain with a golden hued middle area and one who is served by Devas and Gandharvas! Hanuman can take rest on you and then traverse the rest of the distance."

      The mountain Mainaka, listening to the words of the ocean, got up quickly from the water, together with great trees and creepers. Then that Mainaka became in the risen state, passing through the ocean water, just like the Sun piercing through a cloud with his shining rays.

         That great Mainaka who was covered by water in all directions, had peaks with Kinnaras and great serpents, was equal to a sun rise, which were touching the sky, and which had a golden hue, being ordered by the ocean, showed his peaks in an instant. The sky which had a bluish tinge like that of a sword, shone with a golden hue because of the peaks of the mountain which rose up and which was like molten gold.

       Like man proposes, God disposes, Hanuman dispossed the proposal of the ocean and the execution of Mainaka. Hanuman assumed that the mountain which stood before him, rising up suddenly from the middle of the  ocean, as an obstacle. That great vanara Hanuman hit that mountain with his mighty chest. The velocity and the speed were so great the mountain fell down. The mountain was amazed, surprised, staggered, bewildered, astounded, dazed and stunned. He took the form of a human and and standing on its own peak, cried at the flying Hanuman "O the great Vanara! You have performed this impossible task of flying over the ocean. Do come down on to my peaks and rest for a while. The ocean was developed by people born in Sri Rama's dynasty. As such he asked me to take you on my peak for rest. Please therefore, stop for a while on me and then go.

      "O, dear chap, lots of roots, fruits and other fragrant and sweet eatables are available here. Fill your belly with those. Then leave after resting here for a while. O chief among vanaras! Besides this, there also exists a relationship which is famous in all the three worlds, which is based on great virtues, for us with you.

          "O knower of Dharma! If you are worshiped, Vayu also gets worship. For that reason you are to be worshiped by me. That apart, I have some special reason to host you. O son! You obviously must be aware that in the Krita yuga, mountains had wings. With the speed equal to that of Garuda and Vayu, they were roaming  around in all directions. Devas and sages were scared that those mountains might fall down on them.

     "Devendra agreed with them and started cutting off the wings of thousands of mountains by his weapon vajra. When he was about to cut mine the great Vayu saved me by pushing me into this ocean. As a requital I want to host you for rest. If you stay with me for rest for a while,  Sagara will be happy, too, besides me. Reduce your fatigue. Accept our worship also. Respect our love. I am happy by your manifestation."

        Hanuman replied "At the outset many thanks for the offer. Hospitality has been done. Awfully sorry I could not oblige you now. I cannot take any rest in the middle of my duty."

        Hanuman then touched the mountain with his hand, entered the sky and flew on with a smile. 

        Devas and the thousand eyed Devendra who were watching Hanuman's flight, were happy by the offer of that golden hued Mainaka. Devendra personally conveyed his happiness to Mainaka "O Mainaka, the king of mountains! I am very happy with you. I am giving protection to you. Go about anywhere at your will and pleasure."
       Indra and the Devas, Gandharvas, Siddhas and the great sages who accompanied him there desired to know how capable, resourceful and shrewd Hanuman was. They told Surasa, the mother of Nagas, equal to the Sun in brilliance "This glorious son of Vayu, going by the name of Hanuman is flying over the ocean. You assume a horrible mountain like demonic appearance and make a face with fearful tusks, red-brown eyes and as vast as the sky, and create an obstacle to him. We like to see his reaction."

    That Goddess Surasa, assuming such an appearance that was quite daunting for even the devas and intercepting Hanuman in his flight, told him "Hi! Hero! You have been given by Devas as my food. Me gonna eat you. Without making any trouble enter my mouth."

        Hanuman, with a happy face and with folded hands, told Surasa with humility  "The eldest son of Dasaratha, Rama entered the forest of Dandaka together with his brother Lakshmana and wife Seetha. When that Rama, with a bitter enmity towards Rakshasas, was diverted to another task, his famed wife Seetha had been taken away by Ravana. I am going for Rama's sake as a messenger to find her whereabouts. As a subject of Sri Rama you are obliged to help Rama. After finding Seetha and informing that to Sri Rama, I will happily enter into your your mouth. This is my truthful promise to you.”

       Surasa the mother of Nagas,  who was curious to know the strength of Hanuman, told Hanuman "Hi! Monkey! You can go only after entering my mouth." Saying this she opened her wide mouth and stood before Hanuman, dauntingly.
     Surasa was surprised to see that Hanuman's face did not show any fear but anger! A moment later she was mightily surprised to see what she saw. Hanuman's body became ten yojanas long and ten yojanas wide. Surasa made her mouth twenty yojanas long so that the ten yojana long Hanuman can enter without any difficulty. Now Hanuman became angry and became thirty yojanas long. Surasa made her mouth forty yojanas high. Then Hanuman then became fifty yojanas high.
           Surasa then made her mouth sixty yojanas long. The mighty Hanuman in the same fashion, became seventy yojanas high. Surasa made her mouth eighty yojanas high.
       Seeing that mouth with a long tongue which was horrible and equal to hell, opened by Surasa, the great wise Hanuman remembered the aphorism that discretion was the better part of valor. With a sweet smile he suddenly reduced his body to the size of a thumb. Then without pausing even a moment the clever, shrewd, bright, cunning and the ingenious Hanuman with the speed of light entered Surasa's mouth and came out of it and standing in the sky told Surasa "O daughter of Daksha! As desired by you I actually entered your mouth. You failed to swallow me. Hence, please do not bother me anymore. My regards to you. I will now go to find where Seetha is."

        Seeing the clever way Hanuman evaded her that goddess Surasa, assuming her normal form told Hanuman "O gentle Hanuman! Go happily and comfortably to achieve the desired task. Bring Seetha together with the great Sri Rama."

        Hanuman continued his journey, flying like Garuda in the sky. A rakshashi by the name of Simhika who, like any other rakshashis can change her guise at will, saw Hanuman flying in the sky high above. She thought happily "After a long time, this great animal has come into my grasp.  I will enjoy my meal."

   Simhika then assuming the guise of a large animal attracted the shadow of Hanuman. Hanuma thought "Hare Ram! What is happening now? Like a great boat in the ocean with opposing winds, I am being pulled back forcefully."

      Hanuman then noticed down below the animal with a horrible face. He thought: "So this animal with a strange appearance, with great strength is attracting my shadow. This animal must be the one told by Sugreeva. (If you do not remember see 175. Search Party sent to South.) There is no doubt in that." He then increased the size of his body vastly, like a cloud in the rainy season.
  Seeing the huge  body of Hanuman, Simhika opened wide her mouth, which then looked like  the middle of Patala. Roaring like a dense dark cloud, she ran towards the Vanara. Hanuman saw her wide-open mouth which was large enough to accommodate his own body. And he saw her internal organs too. Then Hanuman contracted his body and fell into her mouth voluntarily.

      Siddhas and Charanas(= celestial singers) saw Hanuman sinking in her mouth like the full moon on a full moon day being swallowed by Rahu. Then Hanuman went straight to her tummy and totally rent her internal organs with his sharp nails and after that he flew up and out in a jiffy.

      Simhika with rent innards fell into the sea water with great agony. Seeing Simhika killed by Hanuman, creatures roaming in the sky praised Hanuman "A huge animal has been killed by you. A great task has been done. You have proved the aphorism that 'Face the fearful with no fear, and its fearfulness disappears'. Perform the task dear to you auspiciously. Whoever, like you, has the four qualities of courage, vision, intellect and skill will not fail in any task."

       Hanuman thanked them and jumping up to the sky went like the Garuda with a determined goal. Hanuman after almost reaching the other shore, looked in all directions of the land and saw a series of trees yonder.

        Hanuman,  after getting down also saw an island decorated by a variety of trees and also the forests in the region of Malaya. Hanuman looking back at the ocean saw the faces of the wives of the ocean (rivers are considered wives of ocean), felt quite happy.

Comment : It is considered an auspicious sign to be welcomed by married women. Hanuman seeing the wives of Sagara (i.e. rivers) coming to meet their husband thus bodes well for Hanuman.

End Comment.

    Hanuman mused "After seeing my huge body and the speed, Rakshasas will become curious." And for that reason, Hanuman reverted to his original form. 

     Then he observed the city of Lanka from the top of the mountain. He was amazed to see the City of Lanka seemed to resemble that of Amaravati, the capital City of Indra.

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197. Hanuman braves himself for the leap.

        On seeing the metamorphosis in Hanuman, both physically and mentally all the vanaras there felt immensely happy and highly jubilant.
     Hanuman felt that he would require quite a huge body to cross that ocean. At his wish his body started growing. Seeing that phenomenon Jambavan told the vanaras that he is reminded of the phenomenon of  Narayana whose body was growing to tread the triad of worlds in His Trivikrama incarnation.

        Hanuman who was already superior than other vanaras by way of his energy, had now accrued additional energy through the gladness derived by the way of extolment from the other vanaras. That made him lash his tail impetuously.

       Hanuman, the lineal son of Vayu, now started prancing like a lion around the wide-open den of a mountain. While his body was growing, the face of that clever Hanuman shone forth like a red-hot frying pan and like the fumeless white-hot Ritual-fire. Reverencing the elderly vanaras, Hanuman told "He who is an inestimable one in his formidableness, and an expeditious one in his meandering in the skies, that Vayu who is the friend of Hutaazana (=Fire, but here it means Fire-god) will be toppling mountaintops. As the lineal son of that high-speeded, brisk paced, life-sustaining Vayu, I, too am as fast as him in flights and can topple mountaintops when so required.
     "Indeed I feel I could to go round the Mt. Meru, which is standing high, broad and lofty,  for thousands of times, that too, unremittingly.

      "Now I feel that I have the capability to skew down the ocean with the speed of my undulating arms to spiral up its waters, in order to completely inundate the world together with its mountains, rivers and lakes.

       "Now I can surely shove up the ocean, the abode of Varuna, with the speed of my thighs and calves in order that its underwater beings like sharks, alligators and crocodiles will be shoved up and spilled all over.

     "Now I can circumambulate for thousands of times around the Lord of Birds and the viper-diner, Garuda, while he is on the wing in the sky.
Comment.

    No bird would dare to approach or trespass Garuda's flight path; all the birds would slide-slip when he is sighted.
End Comment.

     "Oh, my dear chaps, now I can venture to start with the Sun who starts his journey of the day from the Mt. Sunrise, and precede him to the Mt. Dusk, and comeback well before him.

    "I can pulverise the mountains while fly-jumping on them; I can splash out the waters of the great ocean just by the speed of my thighs while I fly over it, by which all of its water will trail after my tail. I could now let divers flowers of every climbing plant and tree straggle after me when I fly by the sky making my flight path like that of the Star Swati and its constellate stars twinkling in the sky.
Comment.
     The star Swati is Arcuturus, as forming the 13th and 15th lunar asterism, and esteemed as deity bringing fresh rains and thereby crops.
End Comment.

     "Oh, friends, I can make all beings see my  ascent to the sky, my movement across the vast of sky, and my southerly descent from the sky.

    "While flying without any difficulty I can swipe at the cloudscape helter-skelter. And swirl the mountains topsy-turvy and the ocean pell-mell.........."
         In this vein Hanuman was telling all the vanaras what all he was now capable of doing.    

    On hearing the avouchments regarding the capabilities, which were not known to anyone, including that choicest vanara with illimitable resplendence Hanuman himself, all the other vanaras were stunned to stare overhead at his aggrandized form and they were extremely delighted. The distinguished doyen of that task force Jambavan felt highly exhilarated and fondly hugging Hanuman said

"Oh, brave one, oh, son of Kesari, oh, son of Pavan, oh, dear boy, you have wiped out the boundless bother of your kinsmen in its entirety. All our friends forgathered here are enamoured of your blessedness, and for the purpose of your attainment of the objective, they all obsecrate orisons devoutly. You will leap over this extensive ocean with the compassion of sages, the united choice of all of us, and with the consideration of our oracular teachers.

      "Every one of us will stay-put here on one's own single-foot till you return. The lives of all of us will be following you." 

       Then that son of Vayu shinned up that towering mountain Mahendra, where that mountain was hedged in with diverse flowers, its pastures were the sweethearts of deer.

    He who was equal in valour to the Paradisiacal Mahendra, that highly energetic and grand vanara Hanuman ambled on the loftiest and towery crags of that mountain. When squeezed by both the arms and hands of  Hanuman, that lofty mountain trumpeted, as if it was a lion-paw-hit brutish-elephantine-elephant.

        The force of his kick started to bestrew heaps of boulders, and the noise created thus  scared all the animals including elephants. Even gigantic trees on that mountain rocked as they would in an earthquake. The rapids and waterfalls spouted out of that mountain. Seeing these concomitant reactions caused by the force of the kick start of Hanuman, numerous gandharva couples and hoards of vidhyaadharas, who were indulging in drinking and inebriated on that mountain were scared and hurriedly  forsook those lofty cliffs of that mountain. And all the birds were put to flight, spanking snakes were completely slouching, and rising up and falling down are the stones of that mountaintops to each step of Hanuman, and thus that colossal mountain became desolated.

        With snakes popping up halfway through their snake-pits with their hoods swaying and tongues hissing that earth-borne mountain Mahendra appeared to be a gleaming mountain with flying flags.

      When the sages too forsook that towering mountain due to their own scare bewildering them, that mountain appeared to be the one desolated by his associates in the vast of a thick of forest, as a wilting wayfarer.

       And now Hanuman was seen going on his way to Lanka flying over the great southern ocean, delighting all his comrades.

 End of Kishkindha Kanda 

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