Hanuman's leap

1. 5.1. Book 5, Canto 1: Hanumán’s Leap

   5.1.1Hanuman, the monkey hero, decides to fly through the sky to find where Sita, Rama's captured wife, is being held by Ravan, the demon king. He stands ready and strong, like a mighty bull, for this brave task.
2. 5.1.2Hanuman walks like a lion over the shining grass. His heavy steps scare the animals into hiding, crush trees, and frighten the birds.
3. 5.1.3The mountain where Hanuman stands is beautiful, with lilies of many colors and rocks shining with metals. Heavenly beings like Gandharvas (heavenly musicians), Yakshas (nature spirits), and serpent gods wander there.
4. 5.1.4Hanuman happily roams the wooded mountain top, like a shining snake playing in a lake. Then he stops to pray to the saints and gods.
5. 5.1.5Hanuman prays to Svayambhu (Brahma, the creator), the Sun, the Wind, and Indra for help. Then he tells the other monkeys he will fly to Ravan's city like an arrow from Rama's bow, and if he can't find Sita there, he'll search the sky or even heaven, or bring Ravan back tied up.
6. 5.1.6Hanuman gathers his strength and jumps from the mountain. Trees are pulled up and follow after him, his huge shadow races across the ocean like a ship, and the sea swells beneath him.
7. 5.1.7The gods shower flowers on Hanuman, heavenly singers cheer, and saints praise him. The Sea itself wants to help him and serve Rama.
8. 5.1.8The Sea, wanting to help for Rama's sake, speaks to the mountain Mainaka. It reminds Mainaka that long ago the gods gave it the job of keeping the Asuras (demon enemies of the gods) trapped deep below.
9. 5.1.9The Sea continues: Mainaka guards the cursed demons so they cannot escape, standing at the gates of the underworld. It also has the power to grow or rise up out of the water.
10. 5.1.10The Sea asks Mainaka to rise up out of the water. Hanuman is flying overhead on a great mission for Rama, and the Sea wants Mainaka to give him a place to rest on his tiring journey.
11. 5.1.11Mainaka hears the Sea and rises quickly out of the water, covered in plants and trees. Its golden peaks shine as bright as a hundred suns above the waves.
12. 5.1.12Hanuman thinks the rising mountain is trying to block his way, so he knocks it down as he flies. But from the falling mountain comes a friendly voice calling out to him.
13. 5.1.13The mountain rises again to meet Hanuman as he flies. Standing on its top peak in human form, the mountain spirit greets him and says his task is a great one.
14. 5.1.14The mountain asks Hanuman to land and rest for a while. It explains that the Sea owes a debt to Rama's family, the line of Raghu, so the Sea wants to honour Rama's messenger.
15. 5.1.15The mountain says the Sea told it to rise up from the water so Hanuman could rest on its peak. It invites him to rest his tired body and eat its sweet fruit.
16. 5.1.16The mountain says it knows Hanuman's fame, which all three worlds talk about, and that no one leaps through the sky like him. Wise people honour every guest, even a humble one, so it cannot ignore such a great guest.
17. 5.1.17The mountain says Hanuman shares the strength of his father, the Wind God, and honouring the son also honours the father. Then it begins a story: long ago, in the first age, mountains had wings and flew wherever they liked.
18. 5.1.18The gods and sages were afraid the flying mountains would fall on them. So Indra, king of the gods, cut off their wings with his thunderbolts, but the Wind God saved this mountain by hiding it under the ocean.
19. 5.1.19Because the Wind God saved it, the mountain still has its wings. To thank him, it wants to honour his son Hanuman, and it asks him again to rest.
20. 5.1.20Hanuman says he cannot stop or turn aside from his task. But he is pleased and accepts the mountain's kind wish as if he had received the gift.
21. 5.1.21Hanuman lightly touches the mountain's peak with his hand, then leaps high into the sky, happy in his strength. He flies on through the blue sky, the path of his father the Wind.
22. 5.1.22The gods and sages watch this amazing flight. They go to Surasa, mother of the Nagas (serpent beings), and ask her to block Hanuman's way.
23. 5.1.23The gods tell Surasa to take the form of a huge, frightening demon with red eyes and tusks. They want to test Hanuman's strength and see whether he will escape by cleverness or be beaten.
24. 5.1.24Surasa agrees and rises from the sea in a terrifying shape. She roars at Hanuman that he is meant to be her food today, by a gift granted to her long ago by Brahma, the creator god.
25. 5.1.25Hanuman is not frightened. He explains that Rama and his wife Sita were living in the Dandak forest when Ravan, king of the demons, stole Sita away.
26. 5.1.26Hanuman says he is going to Sita as Rama's willing messenger and should not be stopped. He promises on his honour that after he finds Sita and reports to Rama, he will come back and let her eat him.
27. 5.1.27Surasa refuses his offer. She says Brahma's gift means he must enter her mouth, and only then may he go on.
28. 5.1.28Angry, Hanuman dares her to open her jaws wider and grows ten leagues tall. Her mouth opens to twenty leagues wide.
29. 5.1.29Hanuman grows to fifty leagues, but her mouth keeps growing too. Then he suddenly shrinks smaller than a thumb, darts into her mouth, and jumps right back out.
30. 5.1.30Hanging in the air, Hanuman smiles and says goodbye to Surasa, daughter of Daksha. He has entered her mouth, so her gift from Brahma is fulfilled, and now he goes to find Sita.
31. 5.1.31Surasa returns to her true form and blesses Hanuman. She wishes him success and hopes he brings Sita back to Rama in triumph.
32. 5.1.32Spirits watching praise Hanuman's courage. He flies fast as Garud, king of birds, through the clouds where heavenly musicians live, past the rainbow and the shining chariots of the gods.
33. 5.1.33As Hanuman flies over the sea, a cruel demoness named Sinhika spots him. She can change her shape. She grabs his shadow, happy that she will finally eat.
34. 5.1.34Hanuman feels himself held back, like a ship that cannot move against the wind. He looks below and above to find out what is stopping him.
35. 5.1.35Hanuman sees the ugly monster rise out of the sea. He remembers that King Sugriva had warned him about a demon who catches creatures by grabbing their shadows.
36. 5.1.36Hanuman makes his body grow huge, like a rain cloud. The demoness opens her jaws enormously wide and rushes at him with a roar to eat him.
37. 5.1.37Quick as a thought, Hanuman shrinks his body and jumps right inside her open mouth. He disappears into it, like the moon swallowed by Rahu, the demon said to cause eclipses.
38. 5.1.39The heavenly spirits watch the demoness die and cheer for Hanuman. They tell him to go on with his good mission, saying someone with his courage, wisdom and skill cannot fail.
39. 5.1.40Happy with their praise, Hanuman flies on and nearly reaches the far shore. He sees a dark line of forest and the green island of Lanka, full of flowers, trees and streams.
40. 5.1.41Hanuman lands on a mountain peak called Lamba, streaked with colored minerals. From there he looks at the beautiful city of Lanka shining on the mountain like a crown.