Part - 2 — Ancient Knowledge

Hanumān leaves for Laṅkā, meets Surasa and kills the image-catching demoness

Chaupais

jāmavaṃta kē bacana suhāē. suni hanumaṃta hṛdaya ati bhāē
taba lagi mōhi parikhēhu tumha bhāī. sahi dukha kaṃda mūla phala khāī [5-0-1]
jaba lagi āvauṃ sītahi dēkhī. hōihi kāju mōhi haraṣa bisēṣī
yaha kahi nāi sabanhi kahuom māthā. calēu haraṣi hiyaom dhari raghunāthā [5-0-2]
siṃdhu tīra ēka bhūdhara suṃdara. kautuka kūdi caḍhaēu tā ūpara
bāra bāra raghubīra saombhārī. tarakēu pavanatanaya bala bhārī [5-0-3]
jēhiṃ giri carana dēi hanumaṃtā. calēu sō gā pātāla turaṃtā
jimi amōgha raghupati kara bānā. ēhī bhāomti calēu hanumānā [5-0-4]
jalanidhi raghupati dūta bicārī. taiṃ maināka hōhi śramahārī [5-0-5]

Hanumān was much delighted at heart to hear the heartening speech of Jāmbavān. He said, “Suffering hardships and living on bulbs, roots and fruits, wait for me, brethren, till I return after seeing Sītā. 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 Śrī Rāma (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 Hanumān planted his foot while leaping sank down immediately into the nethermost region (Pātāla). Hanumān sped forth in the same way as the unerring shaft of Śrī Rāma (the Lord of the Raghus). Knowing him to be Śrī Rāma’s emissary, the deity presiding over the ocean spoke to mount Maināka, “Relieve him of his fatigue, O Maināka (by allowing him to rest on you).” (1-5)

It is mentioned in our scriptures that formerly mountains had wings and could fly like birds, but later on Indra clipped them of their wings by his thunderbolt and since then they became stationary. Maināka, however, who was able to accelerate his speed with the help of the wind-god, rushed into the ocean and hid himself under its waters. The deity presiding over the ocean, who had been begotten by King Sagara, and was thus an ancestor of the Lord, took this opportunity to oblige Śrī Rāma and directed Maināka to come out of his hiding-place and give rest to His envoy in the mid-ocean so as to enable him to cross the ocean by easy stages. Out of gratitude to the ocean, who had afforded him shelter all the time, and in order to repay his obligation to the wind-god, Maināka emerged from his asylum and served as a stepping-stone for Hanumān to rest on and replenish his store of energy. Hanumān, however, who was spurred on by his devotion to Śrī Rāma and depended on His all-sufficient grace, needed no other support and took leave of the mountain by merely acknowledging his services. The incident further shows Hanumān’s unremitting zeal in the service of his Lord.

Dohas

hanūmāna tēhi parasā kara puni kīnha pranāma.
rāma kāju kīnhēṃ binu mōhi kahāom biśrāma [5-1]

Hanumān simply touched the mountain with his hand and then made obeisance to it saying, “There can be no rest for me till I have accomplished Śrī Rāma’s work.” (1)

Chaupais

jāta pavanasuta dēvanha dēkhā. jānaiṃ kahuom bala buddhi bisēṣā
surasā nāma ahinha kai mātā. paṭhainhi āi kahī tēhiṃ bātā [5-1-1]
āju suranha mōhi dīnha ahārā. sunata bacana kaha pavanakumārā
rāma kāju kari phiri maiṃ āvauṃ. sītā kai sudhi prabhuhi sunāvauṃ [5-1-2]
taba tava badana paiṭhihauom āī. satya kahauom mōhi jāna dē māī
kabanēhuom jatana dēi nahiṃ jānā. grasasi na mōhi kahēu hanumānā [5-1-3]
jōjana bhari tēhiṃ badanu pasārā. kapi tanu kīnha duguna bistārā
sōraha jōjana mukha tēhiṃ ṭhayaū. turata pavanasuta battisa bhayaū [5-1-4]
jasa jasa surasā badanu baḍhaāvā. tāsu dūna kapi rūpa dēkhāvā
sata jōjana tēhiṃ ānana kīnhā. ati laghu rūpa pavanasuta līnhā [5-1-5]
badana paiṭhi puni bāhēra āvā. māgā bidā tāhi siru nāvā
mōhi suranha jēhi lāgi paṭhāvā. budhi bala maramu tōra mai pāvā [5-1-6]

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 Śrī Rāma’s errand and tell my lord the news of Sītā. 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, Hanumān 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.

Dohas

rāma kāju sabu karihahu tumha bala buddhi nidhāna.
āsiṣa dēha gaī sō haraṣi calēu hanumāna [5-2]

You will accomplish all the work of Śrī Rāma, a storehouse that you are of strength and intelligence." Having blessed Hanumān she departed and Hanumān too joyfully resumed his journey (through the air).

Chaupais

nisicari ēka siṃdhu mahuom rahaī. kari māyā nabhu kē khaga gahaī
jīva jaṃtu jē gagana uḍaāhīṃ. jala bilōki tinha kai parichāhīṃ [5-2-1]
gahai chāhaom saka sō na uḍaāī. ēhi bidhi sadā gaganacara khāī
sōi chala hanūmāna kahaom kīnhā. tāsu kapaṭu kapi turatahiṃ cīnhā [5-2-2]
tāhi māri mārutasuta bīrā. bāridhi pāra gayau matidhīrā
tahāom jāi dēkhī bana sōbhā. guṃjata caṃcarīka madhu lōbhā [5-2-3]
nānā taru phala phūla suhāē. khaga mṛga bṛṃda dēkhi mana bhāē
saila bisāla dēkhi ēka āgēṃ. tā para dhāi caḍhēu bhaya tyāgēṃ [5-2-4]
umā na kachu kapi kai adhikāī. prabhu pratāpa jō kālahi khāī
giri para caḍhi laṃkā tēhiṃ dēkhī. kahi na jāi ati durga bisēṣī [5-2-5]
ati utaṃga jalanidhi cahu pāsā. kanaka kōṭa kara parama prakāsā [5-2-6]

There was a demoness who dwelt in the ocean and would catch the birds in the air by conjuring tricks. Seeing on the surface of the water the reflection of the creature that coursed in the air she would catch it and the bird was unable to move. In this way she would devour birds everyday. She employed the same trick against Hanumān, but the chief of monkeys at once saw through her game. The valiant son of the wind-god dispatched her and swept across the ocean, resolute of mind as he was. Reaching the other shore he gazed on the loveliness of the forest with the bees humming in quest of honey. Trees of various kinds looked charming with fruits and flowers; and he was particularly delighted at heart to see the numerous birds and beasts. Beholding a huge mountain ahead of him, he fearlessly ran up to its summit. The chief of the monkeys, O Umā (Pārvatī), deserved no credit for it: it was all attributable to the glory of the Lord, who devours Death himself. Climbing up the hill he surveyed Laṅkā, a most marvellous fortress that defied description. It was very high and was enclosed by the ocean on all sides. The ramparts of gold shed great lustre all round.