O mighty Hanuman, once, driven by your boundless energy, you traversed a distance of three hundred yojanas without losing heart. As you soared swiftly into the sky, Indra himself, blazing with anger and radiance, hurled his thunderbolt at you. Struck by that weapon, your left jaw was broken upon the peak of a mountain, and from that day, you became renowned as Hanuman. Witnessing this, the Wind-god, your father, was seized by fury and ceased to blow throughout the three worlds. All creation was disturbed; the gods became agitated and the lords of the universe sought to appease the enraged Wind-god. When he was finally pacified, Brahmā granted you a boon: “O truly valiant one, in battle you shall not be slain by weapons.” Seeing you unharmed even after the thunderbolt’s blow, Indra, the thousand-eyed, was pleased and bestowed upon you a supreme boon: “Your death shall come only at your own will, O lord.” Thus, you are the son of Kesari, born in the field, famed for your terrible valor. Truly, you are the son of the Wind-god, equal to him in brilliance and in the mighty leap. Today, though our own days are spent, you stand among us, endowed with skill and valor, like another king of the monkeys. Once, with three strides, I myself circled the earth—its mountains, forests, and groves—twenty-one times in a clockwise direction. By the command of the gods, we gathered herbs by which nectar was churned, and thereby we gained great strength. But now I am old, my vigor diminished; at this time, you, who are endowed with all virtues, are our hope. Now is the moment to display your might, for you are foremost among those who leap; the entire host of monkeys wishes to witness your strength. Arise, tiger among monkeys, and leap across the vast ocean! For you, Hanuman, your path surpasses that of all beings. All the monkeys are disheartened, Hanuman—why do you hesitate? Stride forth with great speed, as Vishnu once took his three strides. Thus urged by the leader of the monkeys, the son of the Wind, confident in his speed, delighted the troop of monkey heroes and assumed a mighty form. And now, let the next chapter be heard. As Hanuman began to expand his form, preparing to cross a hundred yojanas, he swiftly filled the space before them, the foremost among monkeys. Suddenly, the monkeys cast off their sorrow, filled with joy, and cried out, praising mighty Hanuman. Joyful and astonished, they gazed all around at him, the one who would make the three strides, their enthusiasm like people watching Narayana himself. Praised by all, Hanuman, mighty in strength, grew larger still; curling his tail, he gained even more power from his delight. As the elder monkey leaders praised him, his brilliance increased, and his form became unsurpassed. Like a lion stretching in a mountain cave, so did the son of the Wind expand himself. His face shone brilliantly as he grew, wise and radiant like Ambariṣa, blazing like smokeless fire. Rising from the midst of the monkeys, his body thrilled with joy, Hanuman respectfully addressed the elders: “The wind, strong and immeasurable, friend of fire, climbs mountain peaks and moves through the sky. I am the son born of the Wind, swift and mighty; in leaping, I am his equal. I am able, indeed, to encircle Mount Meru thousands of times without touching it, as if tracing the vast sky. Driven by the force of my arms, I can flood the world and all its mountains, rivers, and lakes with the ocean. By the speed of my thighs, the ocean, abode of Varuna, would rise up as if a great crocodile had emerged. I am able to circle Garuḍa, the eater of serpents, soaring in the sky and attended by birds, thousands of times. I can reach the sun itself, blazing and wreathed in rays, whether it has just risen or not yet set. Then, without touching the earth, I am able to return again, with great and terrible speed, O best of the monkeys. “I am able to surpass all beings who move in the sky; I will dry up the oceans and split the earth. Leaping, I will crush the mountains, O monkey; leaping, I will carry away the great ocean with my immense speed. Today, as I leap through the sky, all kinds of flowers from creepers and trees will follow after me. Indeed, my path will be like the path of the wind in the sky as I move through the terrible expanse of the heavens and leap upward. All beings, O monkeys, will see me falling, and you will see me, resembling mighty Mount Meru. As I go, covering the sky as if swallowing the firmament, I will scatter the clouds, shake the mountains, and, leaping with resolve, I will dry up the ocean.” Thus, Hanuman stood before them, radiant and immense, ready to leap across the ocean, as all the monkeys gazed upon him with awe and hope.