Page:Hindu Mythology, Vedic and Purānic.djvu/440

416 Might shall be his, that nought can tire, And limbs to spring as springs his sire.' Thus spoke the god: the conquered dame Rejoiced in heart, nor feared the shame."

At length the son was born. When a child, seeing the sun rising, and thinking it to be the fruit of a tree, he sprang up three hundred leagues to clutch it. On another occasion Indra let a bolt fly at him which caused him to fall violently on a rock. The fall shattered his cheek, and hence the name Hanumān, the long-jawed one, was given to him. His father seeing this became angry, and the breezes ceased to blow, until the gods in terror came to appease Vāyu: Brahmā promised that this boy should not be slain in battle, and Indra declared that his bolts should never injure him in the future.

The Monkey leader rendered most valuable service to Rāma. It was he who discovered Sita's abode, and carried a message to her from Rama. It was he who set fire to Lanka and caused fear to enter the hearts of the Rākshasas dwelling there. It was he who bore Rāma on his shoulders as he crossed over from India to Lanka. Hanumān thus speaks of his wondrous power:

"Sprung from that glorious Father, I In power and speed with him may vie. A thousand times, with airy leap, Can circle loftiest Meru's steep: With my fierce arms can stir the sea Till from their beds the waters flee, And rush at my command to drown This land with grove and tower and town.