In the previous two shlokas, we saw Sri Madhwacharya’s wonderful narration of the episode involving the defeat of Surasa by Hanumanta even as he respected the boon of the Devatas. Having successfully dealt with Surasa, Hanuman proceeds further in his journey towards Lanka.
दृष्ट्वा सुरप्रणयितां बलमस्य चोग्रम्
देवाः प्रतुष्टुवुरमुं सुमनोभिवृष्ट्या |
तैरादृतः पुनरसौ वियतैव गच्छन्
प्रतिददर्श च सिंहिकाख्यम् || 6 ||
Having seen दृष्ट्वा his affection प्रणयितां towards them सुर and च indeed his great उग्रं strength बलमस्य, the Devatas देवाः sang great accolades प्रतुष्टुवुरमुं of him by showering अभिवृष्ट्या him with flowers सुमनः. Having been honoured आदृतः thus by them तैः, he (Hanuman) quickly असौ moved forward वियतैव गच्छन् again पुनः. He came in sight प्रतिददर्श of a shadow planet छायाग्रहं known as Simhika सिंहिकाख्यम्.
The Devatas, in their eagerness to test Hanuman, had given a boon to Surasa that she could consume whomever she desired to. But they knew Hanuman was much higher than them in the hierarchy of souls. So the boon would not be binding on him, and therefore he could have chosen to ignore it. Hanuman could have simply killed Surasa or even chosen to ignore her and move forward. However, when he chose to both respect their boon and escape from the mouth of Surasa, the Devatas were immensely pleased. They showered flowers on him and expressed their delight!
It is a valuable lesson from Hanumanta that the greatness of an individual lies not just in the display of strength and intellect, and respect towards elders, but also in showing natural affection and love towards those lesser than oneself. In the entire Sundarakanda, Hanumanta displays this quality many times.
Hanuman then jumped up again into the sky and moved towards Lanka. He then saw a shadowy planet called Simhika. She was a Rakshasi who had obtained a boon from Brahmadeva that she could catch any living being by just grabbing the shadow of the person. The word छायाग्रह indicates this unique ability she possessed, albeit through a boon.
लङ्कावनाय सकलस्य च निग्रहेSस्याः
सामर्थ्यमप्रतिहतं प्रददौ विधाता |
छायामवाक्षिपदसौ पवनात्मजस्य
सोsस्याः शरीरमनुविष्य बिभेद चाशु || 7 ||
In order to protect अवनाय Lanka लङ्का and च to restrain निग्रहे everyone सकलस्य, Lord Brahma विधाता had granted her प्रददौ unlimited अप्रतिहतं ability सामर्थ्यं. She grabbed अवाक्षिपत् the shadow छायां of the son of Pavana पवनात्मजस्य. He सः entered अनुविष्य her अस्याः body शरीरं and quickly आशु ruptured her बिभेद.
Brahma had granted her a boon that she would be able to restrain anyone by merely grabbing their shadow. Such a boon was the reason why Lanka had become an impregnable fortress, leading to the haughty overconfidence of Ravana and the Rakshasas. With such a creature obstructing the path to Lanka, there was no chance of Jambavanta, Sampati or any other creature reaching Lanka in the search for Sita Mata. Hence it had to be Hanuman alone who had to jump across the ocean and find Sri Rama’s consort.
In the Valmiki and Sangraha Ramayana, there is great description of how Hanuman kills Simhika. Hanuman first starts growing to a humongous size. Seeing him thus, Simhika also enlarges her mouth as wide as the sky itself!
लोकघ्नीमवलोक्यायं दानवीं विवृताननाम् |
अभूदद्रिनिभः साSपि वक्त्रेणांबरमावृणोत् || Sa.Ram – Sundara Kanda – 2-25 ||
Hanumanta then, suddenly, turns into a tiny form, enters her mouth and then, going further inside, mercilessly rips apart her heart with his sharp nails!
स्वतनुं तनुतां नीत्वा हनुमानाविवेश ताम् |
हृदयं निर्दयं तस्या बिभेद नखरैः खरैः || Sa.Ram – Sundara Kanda – 2-26 ||
Sarvottama Narasimha had ripped apart the intestines of Hiranyakashipu in order to protect Prahlada. Here, Jeevottama Hanumanta ripped apart the heart of Simhika in order to find Sita!
Sri Krishnarpanamastu
Pranasutra 
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