Page:The Rámáyana of Tulsi Dás.djvu/452

388 sank down immediately into the depths of hell. Like Ráma's own unerring shaft, so sped Hanumán on his way. Ocean had regard for Ráma's envoy and told Maináka to ease his toil.

But Hanumán merely touched him with his hand, then bowed and said, 'I can stop nowhere till I have done Ráma's business.'

The gods saw Hanumán on his way and wished to make special trial of his strength and sagacity. So they sent the mother of the serpent-race, Surasá by name, who came and cried; 'To-day the gods have provided me a meal.' On hearing these words, the Son of the Wind replied: "When I have performed Ráma's commission and have come back, and have given my lord the news about Sita, then I will put myself into your mouth: I tell you the truth, mother, only let me go now." But, however much he tried, she would not let him go, till at last he said: You cannot get me into your mouth.' She opened her jaws a league wide; the monkey made his body twice that size. Then she stretched her mouth sixteen leagues. Hanumán at once became thirty two. However much Surasá expanded her jaws, the monkey made his frame twice as large again. When she had made her mouth a hundred leagues wide, he reduced himself to a very minute form and went into her mouth and came out again: then bowed and asked permission to proceed. "The purpose for which the gods sent me, namely, to make trial of your wisdom and strength, I have now accomplished.

Your wisdom and strength are perfect; you will do all that Ráma requires of you." She then gave him her blessing and departed, and Hanumán went on his way rejoicing.

A female demon dwelt in the ocean, who by magic caught the birds of the air. All living creatures that fly in the air as they look down upon the water cast a shadow apon it; and she was able to catch the shadow, so that they could not fly away; and in this manner she always had birds to eat. She played this same trick on Hanumán; but the monkey at once saw through her craft