Jāmbavān, the wise and venerable bear-chief, addressed Hanuman with warmth and encouragement. “O child,” he said, recalling his own past deeds, “with three strides I myself once circled the entire earth—its mountains, forests, and groves—twenty-one times in a clockwise direction. At the command of the gods, we gathered the sacred herbs with which nectar was churned, and through that, we all gained immense strength. But now, old age has come upon me, and my valor has waned. At this moment, you, who are endowed with every virtue, are our greatest hope. Show us your might now, for you are the foremost among those who leap. All the assembled monkeys long to witness your strength. Rise up, O tiger among monkeys! Leap across this vast ocean, for 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 did with his three mighty strides.” Thus urged by Jāmbavān, the leader of the monkeys, Hanuman—the son of the Wind—grew confident in his speed. Delighting the troop of monkey heroes, he began to assume a vast and wondrous form. As the sixty-seventh chapter unfolds, the gathered monkeys watched in awe as Hanuman expanded himself, preparing to leap the hundred-yojana stretch to Lanka. He swiftly filled the entire space before them, the foremost among the monkeys. Casting off all sorrow, the monkeys erupted in joyful cries, praising mighty Hanuman. Amazed and delighted, they gazed around at him, recalling the legendary three strides, their enthusiasm as bright as that of devotees beholding Narayana. Praised by all, Hanuman’s strength seemed to grow even greater. His tail curled high, and the joy within him made his form shine with brilliance. As the elder monkeys continued to praise him, Hanuman’s radiance became unsurpassed. Like a lion stretching in his mountain cave, the son of the Wind expanded himself further. His face, as he grew, shone with wisdom and radiance, gleaming like Ambariṣa, like a smokeless flame. Rising from amidst the monkeys, his body thrilled with joy, Hanuman respectfully addressed the elders: “The wind, strong and immeasurable, friend of fire, ascends the mountain peaks and moves through the sky. I am his son, swift and mighty; in leaping, I am his equal. I am able to encircle Mount Meru thousands of times without touching it, as if tracing the very sky. With the force of my arms, I could flood the world, with all its mountains, rivers, and lakes, with the ocean’s waters. By the speed of my thighs, I could cause the ocean—the abode of Varuna—to rise up, as if a great crocodile had surfaced. I can circle Garuḍa, the eater of serpents, who soars in the sky and is attended by birds, thousands of times. I am capable of reaching the blazing sun, crowned with rays, whether it has just risen or has not yet set. Then, without touching the earth, I could return again at terrible speed, O best of monkeys. I can surpass all beings who move in the sky; I could dry up the oceans and split the earth. Leaping, I could crush mountains; leaping, I could carry away the great ocean with my speed. Today, as I leap through the sky, all manner of flowers from creepers and trees will follow after me. My path will be like the wind’s own course through the heavens, as I move through that terrible expanse and leap upward. All beings, O monkeys, will see me falling, and you will see me, resplendent like mighty Mount Meru. As I go, covering the sky as if swallowing the very firmament, I will scatter the clouds, shake the mountains, and, leaping with resolve, I will dry up the ocean. Except for Garuḍa, the king of birds, or the mighty Wind himself, I see no being who could follow my leap. In the blink of an eye, I will suddenly fall through the unsupported sky, like lightning flashing from a cloud. As I leap across the ocean, my form will be like Viṣṇu’s when he took his three strides. My mind perceives it, my heart is set: I will see Vaidehī—rejoice, O monkeys! I am equal to the Wind in speed, to Garuḍa in swiftness; my resolve is to cross even ten thousand yojanas. Even if Indra, wielder of the thunderbolt, or Brahmā, the self-born, stood in my way, I would snatch nectar from their hands by force. My resolve is such that I could even lift Lanka itself and carry it away!” Thus roared Hanuman, the foremost monkey of immeasurable brilliance. The delighted monkeys gazed at him in amazement, and his words dispelled all their grief. Jāmbavān, the lord of the monkeys, greatly pleased, spoke: “O heroic son of Keśarī, swift one, son of the Wind! The great sorrow of your kinsmen has been dispelled by you. The foremost monkeys, radiant with auspiciousness, have gathered here for your sake.