DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.638#0500
4i4 INDIAN MYTH AND LEGEND
he rendered such great service to Rama his wings began
to grow, and he was enabled once again to take flight
athwart the blue heaven.
Hanuman then resolved to visit the distant island
with purpose to discover where Sita had been hidden.
Assuming gigantic form, he stood upon a mountain top
and leapt seaward. The mountain shook when he sprang
from it. Over the sea went the wind god's son and that
swiftly. But demons endeavoured to arrest his progress
through the air. Surasa, mother of the Nagas, rose up
with gaping jaws, and cried: " Thou must needs pass
through my mouth ere thou wilt go farther, O Hanuman."
The heroic Ape extended his bulk, but the Naga hag
opened wider and wider her jaws to prevent him passing.
Then Hanuman shrank to the size of a man's thumb,
and leapt into her mouth and out of it again and again so
as to fulfil her conditions, whereat the hag owned that
she was defeated and allowed him to pass.
Next arose the she dragon, Sinhika, who clutched the
shadow of Hanuman and held him back. Wrathffllly
she sprang forward to devour him, but again the cunning
Ape contracted himself, and entering her mouth, attacked
her and wounded her so that she was slain.
Leaping from her body, Hanuman resumed his journey
until he arrived at Lanka. Night had fallen but the
moon shone brightly. He assumed the form of a cat
and crept stealthily through the capital, gazing on the
wonders about him. He reached the great palace of
Ravana and entered therein. It had shining crystal floors
and jewelled stairways of gold and silver. The mansion
of Indra was not more beautiful than that resplendent
palace of the demon king. Hanuman crept on through
the women's chamber, and beheld fair forms "subdued
in all the shapes of sleep"; beautiful were they as lotus
he rendered such great service to Rama his wings began
to grow, and he was enabled once again to take flight
athwart the blue heaven.
Hanuman then resolved to visit the distant island
with purpose to discover where Sita had been hidden.
Assuming gigantic form, he stood upon a mountain top
and leapt seaward. The mountain shook when he sprang
from it. Over the sea went the wind god's son and that
swiftly. But demons endeavoured to arrest his progress
through the air. Surasa, mother of the Nagas, rose up
with gaping jaws, and cried: " Thou must needs pass
through my mouth ere thou wilt go farther, O Hanuman."
The heroic Ape extended his bulk, but the Naga hag
opened wider and wider her jaws to prevent him passing.
Then Hanuman shrank to the size of a man's thumb,
and leapt into her mouth and out of it again and again so
as to fulfil her conditions, whereat the hag owned that
she was defeated and allowed him to pass.
Next arose the she dragon, Sinhika, who clutched the
shadow of Hanuman and held him back. Wrathffllly
she sprang forward to devour him, but again the cunning
Ape contracted himself, and entering her mouth, attacked
her and wounded her so that she was slain.
Leaping from her body, Hanuman resumed his journey
until he arrived at Lanka. Night had fallen but the
moon shone brightly. He assumed the form of a cat
and crept stealthily through the capital, gazing on the
wonders about him. He reached the great palace of
Ravana and entered therein. It had shining crystal floors
and jewelled stairways of gold and silver. The mansion
of Indra was not more beautiful than that resplendent
palace of the demon king. Hanuman crept on through
the women's chamber, and beheld fair forms "subdued
in all the shapes of sleep"; beautiful were they as lotus