Sundar Kaanda
142 - Hanuman leaves for Lanka, meets Surasa and kills the image-catching demoness
Chaupais
Description
Hanuman was much delighted at heart to hear the heartening speech of Jambavan. He said, "Suffering hardships and living on bulbs, roots and fruits, wait for me, brethren, till I return after seeing Sita. I am sure our object will be accomplished as I feel very cheerful." So saying and after bowing his head to them all he set out full of joy with an image of Sri Rama (the Lord of the Raghus) enshrined in his heart. There was a beautiful hill on the seacoast; he lightly sprang on to its top. And invoking the Hero of Raghus line again and again, the son of the wind-god took a leap with all his might. The hill on which Hanuman planted his foot while leaping sank down immediately into the nethermost region (Patala). Hanuman sped forth in the same way as the unerring shaft of Sri Rama (the Lord of the Raghus). Knowing him to be Sri Rama's emissary, the deity presiding over the ocean spoke to mount Mainaka,* "Relieve him of his fatigue, O Mainaka (by allowing him to rest on you)." (1-5)