Surasa Parabhava – Sundarakanda Nirnaya

नैवात्र विश्रमणमैच्छदविश्रमोSसौ
निःसीमपौरुषबलस्य कुतः श्रमोSस्य |
आश्लिष्य पर्वतवरं स ददर्श गच्छन्
देवैस्तु नागजननीं प्रहितां वरेण || 4 ||

After having satisfactorily dealt with the request of Mainaka, Sri Hanumanta proceeded further in his journey towards Lanka. Sri Madhwacharya next describes his encounter with the mother of the Nagas.

Being the one without any strain अविश्रमः, that Hanuman असौ did not wish न एव इच्छत् to rest विश्रमणम् in the place अत्र (on the Mainaka mountain). For one who possessed unlimited निःसीम valor पौरुष and strength बल where thence कुतः is the question of strain श्रमोSस्य? Having embraced आश्लिष्य that excellent mountain पर्वतवरं, he proceeded गच्छन् further and saw ददर्श the mother of the Nagas नागजननीं, who had been sent प्रहितां by the Devatas देवैः along with a boon वरेण.

Hanuman was the purna avatara of Mukhyaprana, the very personification of strength and valour. Subsequently during the Rama-Ravana war, Hanuman went to the Himalayas and fetched (and returned) the Gandhamadana mountain (twice) in no time! For such a jeeva, who possessed unlimited strength, there was no question of getting tired or any sort of strain. Therefore, the need for resting on the Mainaka mountain did not arise at all.

However, Mainaka wished to be of service to Hanuman considering he was doing Sri Rama’s work. Hanuman therefore wished to oblige him so history would record Mainaka as having rendered service to Lord Rama. Hanuman also wished to acknowledge the gratitude being shown by Mainaka for the help rendered earlier by Lord Vayu.

Considering all this, Hanuman paused for a moment, embraced the mountain and then proceeded further.

One should remember that this display of undivided attention and effort over any task is the hallmark of Vayudeva. As a tattvabhimani devata, Sri Mukhyaprana resides in the bodies of all jeevas in this world. Even as the other organs and their devatas, such as Surya/Chandra (eyes), Agni (tongue), Indra (hands) etc take rest every day, it is Mukhyaprana alone who is active non-stop in our bodies through the act of breath. This characteristic was displayed by Hanumanta in this incident as well. That is why Hanumanta is Jeevottama, the best amongst the jeevas.

Hanuman next met Surasa, who was also known as Kadru. She was the wife of Rishi Kashyapa and was the daughter of Daksha Prajapati.

जिज्ञासुभिर्निजबलं तव भक्षमेतु
यद्यत् त्वमिच्छसि तदित्यमरोदितायाः |
आस्यं प्रविश्य सपदि प्रविनिःस्रुतोSस्मा
द्देवाननन्दयदुत स्वृतमेषु रक्षन् || 5 ||

Desiring जिज्ञासुभिः to know the true strength निजबलं (of Hanuman), the Devatas अमरः told her उदितायाः “May whatever you desire यद्यत् त्वमिच्छसि to consume भक्षमेतु happen so तदिति”. Having entered प्रविश्य her mouth आस्यं, (Hanuman) came out विनिःसृत immediately सपदि. Thus he protected रक्षन् the boon स्वृतमेषु of the Devatas अस्माद्देवान् and caused them great joy आनन्दयत्!

Hanuman, once again, shows his intelligence and respect for the Devatas in this episode. One must remember that Hanuman, being Mukhyaprana, had no compulsion to respect the boon of the Devatas who were lesser than him in the hierarchy of jeevas. However, it is the character of great souls to fulfill the desires of lesser ones as well as a mark of affection towards them. In the Mahabharata, it is for this very reason Sri Krishna makes the vow of Bhishma come true and picks up the wheel of a chariot appearing to be attacking Bhishma.

In the Valmiki and Sangraha Ramayana, we find a more detailed description of how Hanuman navigates this incident.

Surasa, the daughter of Daksha, after being bestowed the boon by Devatas, takes the form of a cruel Rakshasi and stops Hanuman.

दक्षा दाक्षायणीत्युक्ता भूत्वा सा रूक्षराक्षसी |
तस्थावास्यं विवृण्वाना मार्गमावृत्य मारुतेः || Sa.Ram – Sundara Kanda – 2-16 ||

He keeps growing in size to many tens of yojanas. Surasa too increases the size of her mouth trying to swallow him. Suddenly, Hanuman shrinks to the size of a thumb, swoops into her mouth, and exits. Thus, the boon of the Devatas comes true as, technically, Surasa did swallow her desired “prey” Hanuman.

व्यादात् सा द्विगुणं वक्त्रं तद्देहपरिमाणतः |
सोSण्गुष्टमात्रस्तद्वक्त्रं प्रविश्य निरगात् प्रभुः || Sa.Ram – Sundara Kanda – 2-20 ||

Seeing the smart approach of Hanuman, his intention to respect their boon, and his intensity in continuing his journey towards Lanka, all the Devatas were mightily pleased.

Sri Krishnarpanamastu