Rāmāyana | Sundara Kaṇḍa | Chapter 1

Chapter: 1 Hanuman’s Ocean Crossing

[Lava and Kuśa, the sons of Rāma, had sung the entire Rāmāyaṇa as composed by sage Vālmīki in front of Rāma when he was performing the Aśvamedha (horse) sacrifice. This first portion of Sundara Kanda is a part of their narration on the sixteenth day.]

[This chapter describes how Hanuman crossed the great ocean to reach Śrī Lanka in search of Sītā. On the way, first the God of Ocean and Mainaka Mountain respected him. Later devas tested his capability by sending Surasā Devi to test him. After this Simhika dragged his shadow and tried to eat him. Crossing all these hurdles, he reached the other shore safely.]

Afterwards Hanuman, the slayer of his enemies, desired to travel by the paths that the Chāraṇas (devas who travel in the sky) travel, to find out the place where Sītā, who has been abducted by Rāvaṇa, is kept in hiding. 1

[It is clear from this śloka that our ancients knew that even in sky you have to travel by certain chartered pathways.]

With a desire to perform the incomparable and difficult job, he extended his head and neck and resembled a bull. 2

Then the valorous, strong and wise Hanuman started travelling as he liked, similar to a lion in zest, creating terror to the birds, felling trees by his immense chest, glowing like a diamond and killing various animals in the grass, like the torrential flow of water. 3-4

Hanuman stood like an elephant calf in a forest, in the mountain, which had many special elephants and which are fit to be worshipped and endowed, possessing the natural colours of blue, red, yellow and pink, decorated by the strange reddish (laterite) stones and also thickly populated by Yakṣas, Kinnaras, Gandharvas (all the three are communities of minor devas) and Devas with their families along with Pannagas who can take any form or shape they like. 5-7

That reddish vānara (monkey), saluted the Sun God, the King of devas Indra, the Wind God Vāyu, the progenitor Lord Brahma and all great and holy ones and then turned to the eastern direction and saluted his own father Vāyu again. He then thought of Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa and offered them his prayers and bowed before all the holy rivers and the sea. After this he embraced his manes and offered pradakshina (perambulation) to them and concentrated his mind on the travel that he intended to make. 8-10

 [As soon as he was born to Anjana, Hanuman felt very hungry. He was told by his mother to eat any fruit which is red. He jumped towards the Sun in the dawn, who complained to Indra about this attack. Indra hit baby Hanuman with his Vajra who fell down. His father, the Wind God, went in hiding creating a crisis in the world. Then devas led by Brahma blessed the baby Hanuman and gave him several boons.]

Being blessed by all vānaras assembled there with a wish made by them for his safe return journey, he stood facing the path in which the wind travels. 11

He stood facing the south and started growing in his physical stature, after requesting the other monkeys to wait for him in the same place. 12

Being watched by the great and elderly monkeys, Hanuman, who is the greatest among those who can jump and cross, grew like the ocean in high tide for completing the work of Rāma. 13

With his forelegs extended, he with an enormous stature stood facing Śrī Lanka, with a wish to jump and cross the sea and pressed the mountain by his fore legs. 14

The Mountain in spite of this pressure was stable but tottered for a few minutes. As a result the trees shook and flowers of different colours were strewn all over the mountain. 15

Strewn by the thick flower clusters all over, the mountain was covered fully by flowers. It appeared more like a mountain of flowers. 16

Pressed heavily by the strong Hanuman, the Mahendra Mountain resembled an elephant in heat and water flowed out of it. 17

Pressed by the great hero Hanuman, that mountain revealed deposits of Gold, Mica and silver through the openings and sparkled. 18

Not only that but also that mountain which had lot of laterite stones, threw out medium size fire flames all over and pushed out dense smoke. 19

Because of the pressure exerted by the Vānara, the animals, which lived in the caves, were pressed and made sad and painful sounds. 20

That horrendous noise made by the big animals spread in all directions all over the world and also in gardens throughout. 21

Snakes, with shining white Swastika marked hoods, spit out poison from their mouth and hit at the stones with their poisonous teeth. 22

Stuck by the angry and poisonous snakes, those big stones burnt as if they were on fire and broke in to thousands of pieces. 23

Those herbs in the mountain, which were supposed to cure the poison bite of the snakes, were not able to remove the poison from the mountain itself. 24

Some of the snakes with big body were spitting fire and came out from the caves and were trampled by Hanuman's feet. 25

Trampled heavily those trees of the mountain with new growths, gave out a smell of sandal, and gave rise to a rain of flowers. 26

Those stones of the mountain, which were deep red, yellow and light red broke in to pieces and were strewn all over. 27

With the colour of reddish sandal and with ochre coloured deposits that mountain shone like a fire and was broken. 28

Vidyādharas (demi gods who wear garland and live in the sky), who had brought golden vessels to drink, left behind the costly vessels and mugs, various types of flavoured and cooked meat, shields made of the hide of a bull and swords with golden handles and rose up along with their women folk thinking that the mountain is being broken along with sages occupying it. 29-31

Not only that, some other Vidyādharas, who wore garlands in their neck and who had eyes like white lotus and some others who were intoxicated and also who were decorated by red paste and red garlands and red eyes reached the sky. 32

Their ladies, who wore chains, armlets, shoulder bangles, stood with a smiling face along with their lovers, in the sky. 33

Empowered by the mantras that they knew these Vidyādharas and sages were able to float in the sky and watch the mountain. 34

Others heard the following words spoken by those great sages, the demi gods Chāraṇas and saints of great reputation, 35

"The strong Hanuman, who is the son of wind God Vāyu, who is as big as a mountain, is going to cross the sky like the sharks cross the ocean." 36

"For the sake of Lord Rāma, and for the sake of his monkey friends, he is attempting to the impossible job of crossing the ocean." 37

The Vidyādharas who heard these words of the sages stood in the sky and watched Hanuman who had an enormous form. 38

Hanuman who was like a small mountain shook his body, shed some of the hair from his body and like a big cloud made a very loud trumpeting sound. 39

Making up his mind to jump to a great height, Hanuman rotated his big round tail, which is covered by hair all over, like a eagle rotating a snake. 40

Swiftly being rotated behind him, his thick tail, resembled an enormous snake being drawn hither and thither by Lord Garuda. (Eagle on whom Lord Vishnu rides) 41

Hanuman stood stiff with his forelegs, which resembled huge iron pillars, made his belly as small as possible and readied his hind legs for a big jump. 42

That great Hero, shortened his arms and neck and increased his virility, stature and power to the maximum extent possible. 43

Looking above, staring afar and staring in to the sky, he controlled his breath for the big jump. 44

Standing firm on his two legs, extending his ears to catch all the sound, making up his mind to travel fast in the sky, that Great monkey who is very strong, faced the other monkeys and spoke to them as follows. 45

"I would travel to Śrī Lanka which is protected by Rāvaṇa like the holy arrow sent by Lord Rāma with the speed of the torrential wind." 46

"If I am not able to find Sītā in Śrī Lanka, I would then go to the heavens with the same speed." 47

"If I am not able to locate her there also, with great ease, I will tie Rāvaṇa and bring him here." 48

"Whatever may happen, I would return after fulfilling the task and return along with Sītā and if not I would bring the whole Śrī Lanka along with Rāvaṇa." 49

After talking like this to other monkeys, the great monkey Hanuman, without any worry and with great speed resembling that of Garuda, rose up in the sky. 50

When he rose up in the sky, the trees in that mountain along with their branches also rose along with him. 51

Along with him, he took away flower-laden trees with white fat cranes using the speed of his thighs and travelled in the clear paths of the sky. 52

Those trees which travelled along with him by the speed of his thighs, returned back after some time like the relatives who go with the guests and return after some time after the send off. 53

Those sala trees (possibly pine trees), which rose to the sky by the speed of the thigh of Hanuman, accompanied him like the soldiers who accompany their King. 54

Surrounded by many types of fully flower-laden trees, the mountain like Hanuman was looking surprisingly wonderful. 55

Those well mature trees fell in the sea like the mountains slain by Indra and drowned deep.* 56 * Once mountains were supposed to have wings and troubling people. Indra cut away their wings.

Hanuman who was similar to a cloud and looked like a mountain surrounded by different type of flowers, buds, tender leaves and fire flies. 57

Those trees along with heaps of flowers from them, which were uprooted by the speed of the thighs of Hanuman, returned back to the water like the friends after a send-off. 58

The multi coloured and different kinds of flowers, which were light by nature, which fell of due to the fast movement of Hanuman, fell in to the sea. 59

Because of them the great sea glittered like a sky full of stars. 60

In addition, decorated by the series of multi coloured mountains which were falling behind, Hanuman looked like a streak of lightning in front of clouds which travel at a great height. 61

Strewn by the great speed of Hanuman, the flowers which fell on the water looked like the sky strewn with millions of stars. 62

The great storm generated by his travel attracted greatly the clouds, which were shining once in a while due to lightning. 63

The sky with clouds, which were rising high and the water filled ocean moving by tides of great speed looked alike. 64

Pointing high towards the sky, those two hands of Hanuman looked similar to two five headed snakes coming out of the peak of mountains. 65

That great monkey appeared as if he was preparing to drink the great ocean full of high tides and also as if he was wishing to drink the sky also. 66

(Since he was moving up and down, it appeared at one moment that he was trying to drink the sea and at another moment the sky.)

The two eyes of Hanuman, who was travelling in the sky, appeared as if they were shining like two mountain fires at two different points. 67

The two big yellow eyes of the chief of the monkey, shined like the moon and sun in the solar system. 68

His face which appeared reddish by his large and red nose, looked similar to the sky with a red setting sun. 69

His tails, which were held aloft in the sky, looked like Indra's flag held aloft in the sky. 70

With his white sparkling teeth, the famous and wise son of Wind God in the round created by his tail, looked similar to the sun framed by his halo. 71

His reddish behind appeared as if it is a reddish laterite split mountain. 72

The wind passing through the armpits of the monkey, who was crossing the sea, made thunderous swashing sound made by the clouds. 73

That monkey hero appeared like a comet with a tail travelling through the sky. 74

(This was a bad omen to the people of Śrī Lanka.)

The great stature monkey, who was equal to the rising sun, shined with his waist cloth like an elephant. 75

With his great body floating in the sky and its reflection in the depths of the ocean, the monkey looked like a ship being driven by the wind. 76

Whichever part of the atmosphere he travelled, that portion appeared greatly agitated by the speed of his body. 77

That monkey, who was travelling with great speed, was beating away the high tides of the sea by his immense chest. 78

The speed of the wind generated by the moving monkey as well as the moving clouds twisted the sea greatly by their great sounds. 79

That monkey, who was dragging with him the great tides of the salty sea, travelled as if he was separating the land and the sky. 80

Moving with immense speed and crossing the mountain (resembling the Mount Meru), like high tides, he appeared as if he was counting those tides while crossing them. 81

The seawater thrown towards the clouds by the monkey travelling at great speed mixed with the clouds and appeared like clouds of the autumn. 82

Those whales, crocodiles, fishes and tortoise which appeared above the water looked like human limbs when the cloth was removed from them. 83

At that time, the big snakes living in the sea, seeing the flying chief of monkey, mistook him to be Garuda, the eagle. 84

His shade, which was ten yojanas* broad and thirty yojanas long, appeared pretty over the water. 85 * Two and a half miles

Broadly placed over the sea, his shadow in the water appeared as if it was a huge crowd of fish following him. 86

Hanuman, who was powerful, huge and a great monkey appeared as if he was a winged mountain floating in the sky without any support. 87

That monkey, who was very powerful, caused the sea to look like a mountain pass, because of the high speed he was travelling in his path. 88

(Because of his great speed, the water parted below him and was like a mountain pass.)

He travelled like the King of Birds through the route in which the birds flew and appeared as if a fast moving wind was dragging the clouds. 89

The huge clouds attracted by the monkey shined with colours of white, red, blue and yellow. 90

He appeared as if he was a moon, which is travelling through the cloud, being hid at times and being seen at times. 91

The Devas, Gandharvas and Dānavas* rained flowers on the fast flying monkey. 92 * Children born to Kaśyapa and his wife Dhanu.

Then as if to aid the work of Lord Rāma, the sun did not scorch him and the wind made a pleasant atmosphere round him. 93

The sages praised the monkey, who was travelling with great speed, and also the Devas and Gandharvas sang in praise of the great one. 94

Seeing the monkey did not appear tired by his exertions, Rākṣasas and Nagas, Yakṣas and devas praised him with glee. 95

When the great monkey was travelling thus, the God of the ocean thought of methods of honouring the descendent of Ikshvāku. 96

(One of the well-known forefathers of Lord Rāma.)

He thought that if he did not help Lord Hanuman in his effort, all those who can talk would speak ill of him. 97

Since the Sagara Kings belonging to the Ikshvāku clan raised him and Hanuman was helping their descendent, the God of Ocean thought that Hanuman should not get tired. 98

(Bhagīratha one of the forefathers of Lord Rāma brought water from the head of Lord Siva to the dried up sea so that Bhagīratha’s ancestors should get salvation from their sins and thus filled up the sea.)

He thought that he should take suitable action, which would refresh Hanuman and also provide him with rest so that he can cross the remaining distance easily. 99

Thinking properly like this, the God of the ocean spoke to the mountain Hiraṇya Nābh (Golden bellied) also called as Mainaka (son of Mena) who was hiding within him. 100

(He was the son of Himalayas and his queen Mena.)

"Hey mountain chief, you have been appointed over here to monitor the entry of Asuras living in Paṭala* by Indra, the King of Devas". 101 * The world underneath earth peopled by undesirables.

"You are standing here closing the way to prevent them from come up by those powerful ones living in the vast Paṭala". 102

"Oh Mountain, only you have the power to grow sideways and also bottom to the top. Hey, mountain chief, it is because of this I have come here to speak to you, please get up." 103

"This monkey chief Hanuman is flying in the sky with great valour for doing a dangerous errand to Lord Sri Rāma. He is now going to come just above you". 104

"I need to help him, for all the descendants of Ikshvāku are worth worshipping by me and therefore they are fit to be worshipped by you also." 105

"We have to do good and we should not leave it undone for duties performed at the correct time brings bad name to good people." 106

"Raise up above the water level and let the great monkey, who is our guest, who is fit to be worshipped, stand on you for some time." 107

"Oh mountain with golden peaks, which are served by devas and Gandharvas, let Hanuman take rest on you and go refreshed his remaining way". 108

"You should know the good qualities of Lord Rāma, the parting pangs of his wife Sītā and also tiredness of Lord Hanuman and try to raise up fast." 109

The Mainake Mountain, which was full of forests, climbers and golden peaks listening to the words of the ocean rose up fast. 110

That Mainaka Mountain, which was rising very high, looked like the glittering Sun God with his rays coming out piercing a thick cloud. 111

That mountain, which had great fame, ordered to thus by the God of ocean within a very short time exhibited its peaks outside the water. 112

Those peaks, which were golden, pointed and great, resembled the rising Sun God and appeared as if they were rubbing the sky and the deep blue sky tinted by the sparkling golden peaks looked as if it has become golden in colour. 113-114

The Mountain, which had several peaks of innate glitter and of sparkling gold colour, resembled hundreds of Suns. 115

Rising above by itself in the middle of salty ocean and standing in front of him, Hanuman thought that it was an obstacle. 116

That fast moving monkey chief easily brushed off its tall peaks as if wind brushes of the cloud. 117

That mountain which was pushed aside by the monkey, was astonished by his strength and also became happy because of it. 118

That mountain which stood tall in the sky, became happy and took a human form, stood on his own peak and said as follows to the valorous monkey. 119

"Hey great monkey you have done something which other people cannot do." 120

"Please get down on to my peaks and relax." 121

"The ocean was remade by the ancestors of Lord Rāma and the Ocean God worships you, who is engaged in the job of helping Rāma, as an act of gratefulness." 122

"We always have to repay, the good done to us. This is the perennial duty of our religion. So he wants to help you and make you beholden to him." 123

"He requested me with respect to provide a resting place to you in my pleasant valley so that you need not jump at a stretch the one hundred yojanas and then easily jump the rest of the way. And so hey, great monkey, you please stay on me for some time, take rest and then proceed." 124-125

"Hey monkey chief, savour the very tasty roots and fruits lovingly offered by the God of Ocean and you can proceed very much refreshed soon." 126

"Hey monkey chief, you know that receiving and showering hospitality on good people is a blessed act in all the three worlds and apart from that, you do have another connection with me." 127

"Hey monkey chief, I consider you the greatest among all those monkeys, who can move fast and jump very high." 128

"It is well known that those learned ones, who desire to perform rightful acts, that even if a guest is not a great one, he is fit to be worshipped. Then what to say when the guest happens to be a great person like you." 129

"Hey great monkey, you are the son of Vayu (the wind god), who is great among the devas and equal in speed to him." 130

"Hey holy one, if you are worshipped the Wind God receives it himself and please also hear about another reason why you are fit to be worshipped by me". 131

"Hey son, during Kritā Yuga Mountains also had wings and they were travelling to all places like Wind and Garuda." 132

"Because the mountains were travelling all over the great sages and society of devas, who were with them as well as all living beings, were terror struck because of the fear that these mountains may fall on them." 133

"Because of this reason, Devendra who had done one hundred fire sacrifices, became enraged and started to cut the wings of the mountains in to pieces in different places using his Vajra* (Diamond equipment literally)." 134 * A weapon made by the bones of Sage Dadhīchi to kill Vritrāsura.

"That angry Devendra intent on cutting my wings neared me, but the great wind god blew me away fast from that place." 135

"Your father pushed me inside this salt sea so that no harm was done to my wings and thus I alone was saved." 136

"And so I worship you as I should have worshipped the God of Wind. Monkey chief, you know that this connection between both of us is really great." 137

"And so Monkey chief, because of this, accept the hospitality provided by me and the Ocean God and bless us." 138

"Hey chief of monkeys, relax and take rest and accept our worship and also accept our love. I have become happy by meeting with you." 139

Thus told by the great mountain, the great monkey said "I am pleased with your hospitality. You have provided all the hospitality to me and I have accepted it." 140

"The time for performance of my duty is getting over and also the day light hours are nearing to an end. Apart from this, I have given my word that I will not tarry in between doing this great work." 141

(See the 46th stanza of this chapter.)

Thus telling, the valorous monkey chief Hanuman patted the mountain on its peaks and with a smile re-entered the sky and re-commenced his journey. 142

That monkey, who was the son of wind God, was seen off with respect by the mountain as well as the ocean and was worshipped by them by suitable wishes. 143

After this, he left the mountain and ocean and travelled high and started to go forward by the path of his father and started travelling in the clear sky. 144

The son of Wind God further rose up and moving in the right direction and started travelling without any support in the clear sky. 145

Witnessing this almost impossible second act being performed, all Sidhas, devas and sages appreciated him. 146

Seeing the great act of the golden peaked Mainaka mountain, all the devas and Devendra, who were there in the sky, became extremely happy. 147

The great Indra with his ebbing happiness and with stuttering voice due to that told the following words to Mainaka, the mountain chief. 148

"Hey golden peaked King of the Mountains, I have become very pleased with you." 149

"Hey, pleasant one, I have given you my protection." 150

"You have provided help in the right time to valorous Hanuman, who is fearless, even when there was a need to be afraid." 151

"This monkey is going in the service of Lord Rāma, who is the son of Dasaratha, and because of your hospitality to him, I am extremely pleased." 152

Because of these words, the mountain chief understood that even Indra, the King of Devas, was pleased with him and became very happy. 153

Thus the mountain chief stood there firmly and Hanuman was moving extremely fast over the ocean. 154

At that time the devas, gandharvas, siddhas and the great sages seeing the fast moving monkey chief in the sky, told Surasā the mother of Nagas (serpents), who had the splendour of the Sun, thus. 155

"This great Hanuman, who is the son of Wind God, is flying over the sea. Please take a ferocious Rākṣasa form which touches the sea, which is like mountain and with red eyes and vampire like teeth and delay his progress." 156-157

"We want to know (test) for the second time, his strength and virility and also would like to see whether he will win you over by trick or become dejected." 158

(Though they had an inkling of this from his behaviour with Mount Mainaka, they wanted to reconfirm.)

Thus requested and respected by the devas, Surasā Devi took an unusual ugly fear creating form which is more suitable to the Rākṣasas and stood in the middle of the sea and spoke to Hanuman thus: 159-160

"Hey monkey, you have been allotted as food to me by the devas and so I am going to eat you. Enter my open mouth." 161

Thus spoken to the great Hanuman, saluting her and with a pleasant face spoke to her thus: 162

"Rāma, the son of Dasaratha, came to the Daṇḍakāraṇya forest along with his brother Lakṣmaṇa and his wife Sītā and was living there." 163

"He earned the enmity of Rākṣasas and when he was otherwise engaged, Rāvaṇa abducted his wife, the renowned Sītā." 164

"As per the orders of Rāma, I am going as an emissary in search of her. You, who are a citizen in the Kingdom of Rāma, are also bound to help him out." 165

"Or else I promise you that after seeing Sītā and also Rāma. who is very much worried, I would come to you and reach your mouth." 166

Thus requested by Hanuman, Surasā Devi, who could take any form she wished, said to him" None can cross me and this is a boon given to me by the devas." 167

With a desire to know the strength of Hanuman, Surasā Devi, the mother of Nagas, further said "You can only go from here after entering my mouth. This is a boon given to me by Lord Brahma." Saying this she enlarged the size of her mouth greatly opened it wide and stood before him. 168-169

Angered by the words of Surasā, Hanuman told her "Make your mouth suitably big so that you can swallow me." 170

Telling her thus, Hanuman became ten Yojanas big as Surasā was at that time ten yojanas big. 171

Observing that he has grown to ten Yojanas, Surasā enlarged her mouth to twenty yojanas. 172

The very intelligent Hanuman seeing that she has opened her mouth to twenty yojanas became angry and took up the form of thirty yojanas. 173

Seeing this, Surasā made her mouth forty yojanas wide. 174

The valorous Hanuman became fifty yojanas big. 175

Surasā made her mouth sixty yojanas wide and Hanuman became seventy yojanas big. 176

Surasā made her mouth eighty yojanas wide. 177

The Mountain like Hanuman made himself ninety yojanas big. 178

Surasā Devi made her mouth one hundred yojanas wide. 179

Very intelligent and wise Hanuman seeing the wide open mouth of Surasā with protruding tongue, very fearful and similar to hell, instead of increasing his size further, started reducing himself fast and like a wind driven cloud became as small as a thumb. 180-181

With great speed, the great one entered her mouth and suddenly came out and standing in the sky itself told the following words: 182

"Hey Dakshayani (daughter of Dakṣa) my salutations to you. I have entered your mouth and so taking this as the truth, allow me to go to the place where Sītā lives." 183

(These words bring out the fact that Hanuman knew about her divine origin. This also is indicated by the fact that he saluted her. - Refer to Stanza 162)

Seeing Hanuman like the moon, which has come out of the mouth of Rāhu, Surasā took her real form and told him, "Hey, son, Her monkey chief, let you have a pleasant journey and let your errand be successful. Please become happy after reuniting Rāma and Sītā." 184-185

All beings witnessing the third and impossible task of Hanuman and praised the monkey chief and said "Great, Great." 186

Equivalent in speed to Garuda, he left the sea, which is the abode of Varuna and which was very difficult to cross, and rose above to the sky and travelled further. 187

(Some commentators believe that Hanuman descended in to the sea, took bath and rose up, because he entered the mouth of Surasā.)

Hanuman then travelled like Garuda in the sky which is served by the rain drops, in which the birds live, peopled by Gandharvas like Tumburu* who sing ragas like kaisika, in which rainbows exist, in which aero planes which travel high on vehicles such as lion, elephant, tiger, birds snake and crocodile exist, which is well decorated, which is being lit by fire of Vajra, thunder and lightning, Which is populated by people who do good deeds and those great ones who have won over heavens, which is being constantly served by Agni, the fire God, who is being fed by the portions to be given to devas, which is full with Sun, moon, planets and stars, which is filled by sages, Yakṣas, Gandharvas and Nagas, which is really great, which is very clear, which is full, in which Viśvāvasu the King of Gandharvas travels, in which the elephant of Devendra travels, which is the way of Sun and the moon, which does always good, which is the roof constructed by Lord Brahma for all living beings and which is populated by great valorous Vidyādharas. 188-194 * A celestial horse headed singer

Like the wind he also dragged the clouds with him. 195

Attracted by the monkey chief the clouds shined in black and also red, yellow and white colours. 196

That monkey, who was entering and coming out of the clouds, looked like the moon of the rainy season, which is completely invisible and visible at different times. 197

Hanuman, the Son of Wind God, looked like a winged mountain visible from all places in the support less sky. 198

A Rākṣasī (ogress) called Simhikā, who can assume any form she likes, saw the fast moving Hanuman and thought in her mind thus. 199

"Today I am going to eat proper and sufficient food as an animal of this size has come my way after a long time." 200

Thinking thus in her mind she dragged Hanuman's shadow and once his shadow was caught Hanuman started thinking thus. 201

"Like a torrential wind of the sea blowing against, a big ship slows it down, my strength has reduced and I am being stopped." 202

Then the monkey peered all round, to the top, below and saw a very large being floating in the sea. 203

Examining it carefully, he thought, "This must be the fearsome and big being, as told by the King of Monkeys Sugrīva, which can drag one's shadow and I do not have any doubt about it." 204

(In Kiṣkindha Kanda, in the forty first chapter, Sugrīva describes about this Rākṣasī to Hanuman.)

That wise and intelligent monkey recognized her as Simhikā and started increasing his size like the black cloud in rainy season. 205

Seeing the increasing size of monkey chief's body, she opened her mouth, which was like Paṭala and the sky very wide. 206

Thundering like a series of clouds she started chasing the monkey. 207

That wise monkey saw her throat through her widely open mouth, he also saw the big size of her body and her Achilles Heel.* 208 * Murma or her weak point by which she can be killed.

Slightly reducing his body's size, he fell with lot of force and like thunder in to her wide-open throat. 209

The Siddhas and Chāraṇas (celestial beings) saw him vanish in his throat like the moon vanishing on full moon eclipse days. 210

With his sharp nails he tore her Achilles heel and with the speed of wind and mind came out of it. 211

The fearless monkey chief Hanuman thus killed her by his quick power of thinking, valour and capacity to take right decisions at right time and started increasing in his size. 212

Because the monkey tore apart her chest, she fell down dead in to the sea. Is it that Hanuman was created by Brahma to kill her! 213

Seeing how fast he killed Simhikā, those beings who live in the sky told monkey chief thus: 214

"Hey, great monkey, you have now done a very great deed. A great animal is dead. We all wish you to complete the job that you have undertaken without any problems. 215

"Hey monkey chief, if anyone has your four qualities of valour, wisdom, intelligence and quick thought process, he would never face any problems in completing his job." 216

Understanding the meaning of their words, respected by all of them, he reached the sky again and moved forward. 217

Once he completed travelling one hundred yojanas, he almost reached the other shore and seeing in all directions, he saw a very big forest. 218

Traveling in the sky itself, he saw the island decorated by very many kinds of trees, the Malaya Mountain and its sub forests. 219

That heroic and intelligent Hanuman, examined the sea, seashores, the trees on the sea shore, the rivers, which were the wives of the sea and ports as also his big cloud like body, which was hiding the sky and thought. 220-221

"Seeing the big growth of my body and its torrential speed, the Rākṣasas would get curious about me". Thus thought the monkey chief. 222

He then reduced his mountain like size of his body and took his real form like the great sage from whom ignorance has been removed. 223

He further reduced his size and resembled the great Vāmana who destroyed the pride of King Mahabali by measuring three steps. 224

That Hanuman, who can assume many pretty forms, reached the sea shore examined his stature himself and thinking about the job that he has to do, assumed a form that is suitable for the job and became one who cannot be defeated by others. 225

From there the great Hanuman, who was like a big mountain range landed in the Lamba (hanging) mountain, which had pretty fertile peaks full of pandanus, coconut and Karṇikāra (some herb) plants. 226

Hanuman reached the seashore and saw the city of Lanka, which was on the Trikūṭa (three spire) mountain and reduced his stature to the minimum required size and bullying the animals and birds jumped from the mountain. 227

Hanuman with his immense strength crossing the great ocean, which was populated, by Dānavas and Pannagas jumped on the other shore and saw the city of Lanka which was similar to the city of Amarāvatī, the capital of Indra. 228

Thus ends the first chapter of Sundara Kanda in the Rāmāyaṇa which is the first epic written by Vālmīki.