As Hanuman soared across the vast ocean on his mission to find Sita, the gods gathered with Gandharvas, Siddhas, and the supreme sages. They turned to Surasa, the radiant serpent-mother, whose brilliance rivaled the sun, and spoke to her: “Hanuman, the illustrious son of the wind, is crossing the sea. For a moment, you must create an obstacle for him.” They instructed her, “Take on a terrifying and monstrous form—like a great mountain, with dreadful fangs, tawny eyes, and a mouth that reaches to the sky. We wish to test his strength and help him further his prowess; let us see whether he overcomes you, or falls into despair.” Honoring their request, Surasa, revered among the gods, assumed a demonic form in the midst of the ocean. She became grotesque and misshapen, inspiring fear in all who beheld her, and blocked Hanuman’s flight. Addressing him, she declared, “O foremost of monkeys, the gods have appointed you as my food. I will devour you—enter my mouth.” She explained, “Once the Creator granted me a boon: ‘Be swift!’” With her vast mouth opened wide, she stood before Hanuman, the son of the wind. Hanuman, undaunted and his face radiant, replied, “Rama, son of Dasaratha, has entered the Dandaka forest with his brother Lakshmana and his wife Sita. Absorbed in other duties and bound by enmity with the demons, his illustrious wife Sita was carried off by Ravana. By Rama’s command, I am going as a messenger to her. You, dwelling in these waters, ought to assist Rama. Otherwise, once I have seen Maithili and Rama, the doer of righteous deeds, I will return to your mouth. I pledge this truthfully.” Surasa, who could assume any form at will, replied, “No one may bypass me; this is my boon.” Wishing to test Hanuman’s strength, she insisted, “Enter my mouth today, O best of monkeys, or you cannot go further. This boon was given to me by the Creator—be swift!” With her mouth opened wide, she stood before him, and Hanuman grew angry. He said, “Make your mouth large enough to contain me!” So saying, Hanuman expanded his form in anger, becoming ten yojanas long. Surasa, matching his challenge, widened her mouth to twenty yojanas. Hanuman then became thirty yojanas long, and Surasa made her mouth forty yojanas wide. The heroic Hanuman grew to fifty yojanas, and Surasa’s mouth expanded to sixty. Hanuman then reached seventy yojanas in height, and Surasa widened her mouth to eighty. Hanuman, blazing like fire, grew to ninety yojanas, and Surasa stretched her mouth to one hundred yojanas. Seeing Surasa’s gaping, long-tongued mouth, terrifying as hell and dreadful to behold, Hanuman, wise and resourceful, reflected. In a flash, he contracted his body, becoming as small as a thumb. Approaching and entering her mouth, Hanuman emerged again, standing in the sky, and addressed her: “I have entered your mouth, O daughter of Daksha; my salutations to you! Now I will go where Vaidehī is, for your boon remains true.” Surasa, seeing Hanuman released from her mouth like the moon from Rahu’s jaws, resumed her own form and addressed him warmly: “Go, O best of monkeys, gentle one, and accomplish your purpose as you wish. Bring Vaidehī to the great-souled Rāghava.” Witnessing Hanuman’s third and most difficult feat, all beings praised him, exclaiming, “Well done! Well done!” Reaching the unfathomable ocean, the abode of Varuna, Hanuman soared into the sky with the speed of Garuda. The sky was frequented by clouds bearing water, birds, teachers of the Kaiśika dance, and Airavata. It was adorned with lions, elephants, tigers, birds, serpents as mounts, and pure, decorated flying vehicles moving about. The sky shone like fire, touched by thunderbolts, and was inhabited by the greatly fortunate who had gained heaven through merit. It was traversed by the sun, worshipped by Chitrabhanu, and adorned with planets, stars, the moon, and the sun. Crowded with great sages, Gandharvas, Nāgas, and Yakṣas, yet clear and pure, attended by all the Viśvavasus, it was trodden by the king of the gods’ elephant, along the auspicious path of the moon and sun—the canopy of living beings, spread out and created by Brahma. Often frequented by heroic Vidyādharas, Hanuman, son of the wind, traveled along the path of the wind like Garuda. He drew along masses of clouds, as the wind does, clouds colored like black aloe wood, and red, yellow, and white. The great clouds, pulled by the monkey, shone as he entered and exited their masses again and again. At that time, Hanuman, son of the wind, was visible everywhere, appearing like the autumn moon as he entered and exited the clouds, his mighty presence a marvel to all.