Sundar Kaanda
142 - Hanuman leaves for Lanka, meets Surasa and kills the image-catching demoness
Chaupais
Description
The gods saw the son of the wind-god sweeping along; and in order to test his extraordinary strength and intelligence they sent Surasa, a mother of serpents, who came near him and said: "The gods have provided me a meal today." On hearing these words the son of the wind-god said in reply, "Let me return after accomplishing Sri Rama's errand and tell my lord the news of Sita. Then I will approach you and enter your mouth; I tell you the truth. Mother, only let me go now." When, however, she would not let him go on any account, Hanuman said, "Then why not devour me?" She distended her mouth to a distance of eight miles, while the chief of monkeys grew double the size of her mouth. She stretched her mouth to a circumference of a hundred and twenty-eight miles, and the son of the wind-god immediately took a form covering two hundred and fifty-six miles. Even as Surasa expanded her jaws the chief of the monkeys manifested a form twice as large as her mouth. When she further expanded her mouth eight hundred miles wide, the son of the wind-god assumed a very minute form, by which he entered her mouth and came out again and bowing his head to her begged leave to proceed. "I have gauged the extent of your wit and strength, the errand for which the gods had despatched me.