Hanuman, the heroic son of the wind, was journeying across the vast ocean to fulfill his mission for Lord Rāma. As he sped along, he encountered Surasa, the daughter of Daksha, who stood before him as a formidable obstacle. Hanuman grew to fifty yojanas in height, and Surasa responded by stretching her mouth to sixty yojanas wide. Not to be outdone, Hanuman expanded further, towering seventy yojanas tall, while Surasa widened her mouth to eighty yojanas. Hanuman blazed like fire, becoming ninety yojanas tall, and Surasa opened her mouth to a length of one hundred yojanas. Faced with Surasa’s terrifying, gaping mouth—long-tongued and dreadful as hell—Hanuman paused and reflected. With wisdom and skill, he suddenly contracted his enormous form, shrinking down to the size of a thumb. In that instant, he approached and entered Surasa’s mouth, then emerged, standing in the sky. Hanuman addressed Surasa respectfully, saying, “O daughter of Daksha, I have entered your mouth. My salutations to you! Now I will go to where Vaidehī is, for your boon remains true.” Surasa, seeing Hanuman released from her mouth like the moon freed from Rahu’s jaws, returned to her own form and spoke warmly to him: “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!” Hanuman then reached the unfathomable ocean, the abode of Varuna, and entered the sky with the speed of Garuda. The heavens were alive with clouds bearing water, birds, teachers of the Kaiśika dance, and Airavata, the celestial elephant. The sky was adorned with lions, elephants, tigers, birds, serpents as mounts, and pure, decorated flying vehicles. It shone like fire, touched by thunderbolts, and was inhabited by the fortunate who had gained heaven through merit. The sun traversed it, Chitrabhanu worshipped it, and it was adorned with planets, stars, the moon, and the sun. The sky was crowded with great sages, Gandharvas, Nāgas, and Yakṣas, yet remained clear and pure, attended by all the Viśvavasus. It was trodden by the king of the gods’ elephant, and followed the auspicious path of the moon and sun, the canopy of living beings, spread and created by Brahma. Heroic Vidyādharas often frequented it, and Hanuman, son of the wind, traveled along the path of the wind like Garuda. Hanuman drew along masses of clouds, as the wind does, clouds colored like black aloe wood, and red, yellow, and white. The great clouds shone as Hanuman entered and exited their masses again and again. At that time, Hanuman was visible everywhere, appearing like the autumn moon as he moved through the clouds. He reached the unsupported sky, like a mountain with wings. As he floated, a rakshasi named Simhika saw him and thought, “Today, after a long time, I will have a meal.” She believed Hanuman had come under her control and seized his shadow. Feeling his strength suddenly rendered useless, Hanuman looked around, like a great ship driven against the current by the wind. He saw the great being rising in the salty water, and pondered her true nature. He recalled the words of the monkey king, realizing this was the mighty shadow-catcher. Understanding Simhika’s nature, Hanuman expanded his body like a rain cloud in autumn. Simhika, seeing Hanuman’s growing form, widened her mouth vast as the sky and underworld, roaring like a mass of clouds as she rushed toward him. Hanuman observed her body and vital points, and as her mouth distorted, he contracted himself repeatedly and leapt into her mouth. The Siddhas and Charanas saw him sinking, as Rahu swallows the full moon. Inside, Hanuman tore her vital points with his sharp nails. Then, with speed and skill, he sprang up and struck her down, destroying her heart. Hanuman himself was created by the Self-born for her destruction. The heroic monkey grew again with speed and fell into the troubled waters. Seeing Simhika struck down and fallen, the sky-roaming beings spoke to Hanuman: “A terrible deed has been accomplished today; a mighty being has been slain by you. Fulfill the purpose you have set out for, O best among those who leap. O king of monkeys, one who possesses these four—resolve, vision, intelligence, and skill—just as you do, does not falter in action.” Honored by those who had achieved their purpose, Hanuman entered the sky once more, like Garuḍa, the devourer of serpents, continuing his journey with undiminished resolve.