Kept as Hanuman his own course
To test him thus she engaged him.
None there is an escape route
Settled it all that Brahma’s boon
As and when I come in way
Pass all through but mine own mouth.
Enraged Hanuman dared Surasa
See if she could swallow him.
Neared as she with hill like mouth
Outgrew Hanuman mountain like.
Stretched she jaws then undaunted
Tides that took and clouds in stride.
Stalling Surasa’s great swallow
Assumed Himalayan size Hanuman.
Stretched she into troposphere
Touched he then the stratosphere.
None less was the mother serpent
Mouth she widened enough for him.
Hanuman to thwart her for all
Raised himself to heaven itself.
Snarled then she her mouth awful
Enough to engulf heaven and earth.
With his presence of mind Hanuman
Turned then simian with thin tail.
Before she could drop her jaws
Traversed Hanuman through her mouth.
Gaped as Surasa spoke Hanuman:
Came out as I from thy mouth
Boon of Brahma thus fulfilled
Feel I am a free bird now.
Seemed he then to Surasa’s eyes
Like the moon that’s past eclipse.
Spoke thus Surasa to Hanuman:
Go on with no hindrance now
And bring Seetha back to Ram.
Looked all worlds in wonderment
Hanuman’s feat that third in row.
Having tricked that Surasa thus
Then in high skies flew Hanuman.
Celestial singers there he saw
Stable of Airavat as well.
With features of earth’s wildlife
Saw he flying beasts in skies.
With their aura of angels
Lived all righteous people there.
Went he near to sun ’n moon
Saw he Agni conduits who
Oblations to gods all there.
It’s the region that ruled by
Visvavas the king that fair
Live where angels ’n such like
Besides good souls after death.
Entered he then that region
Serves as canopy of three worlds,
Path there sun ’n moon doth share
With Indra’s stable of white elephants.
Saw them he all in their turn
Martyrs all of great battles.
Clouds of myriad colours in skies
Scattered were by Hanuman’s thrust.
Clouds with playing hide and seek
In skies then he shone like moon.
Flying non-stop in high skies
Looked he like a winged mountain.
Seeing Hanuman thus speeding
Fiendish Simhik turned greedy.
Was there ever a prey like this?
What a sumptuous meal it makes!
Gripped she then him by shadow
Cast which Hanuman coast to coast.
Ship in sail as up the wind
Slowed down Hanuman in his course.
At last as he looked for clue
Found his shadow in fiend’s grip.
Recalled he in dismay then