Shloka 167
समुद्रलङ्घनारम्भः
Commencement of the Ocean-Crossing
चकार सुरसा वक्त्रं शतयोजनमायतम्तव सानुषु विश्रान्तः शेषं प्रक्रमतामिति।तद्दृष्ट्वा व्यादितं त्वास्यं वायुपुत्रः सुबुद्धिमान्।दीर्घजिह्वं सुरसया सुघोरं नरकोपमम्।।।।सुसंक्षिप्यात्मनः कायं बभूवाङ्गुष्ठमात्रकः।
cakāra surasā vaktraṃ śatayojanam āyatam tava sānuṣu viśrāntaḥ śeṣaṃ prakramatām iti | tad dṛṣṭvā vyāditaṃ tv āsyaṃ vāyuputraḥ subuddhimān | dīrghajihvaṃ surasayā sughoraṃ narakopamam | susaṃkṣipyātmanaḥ kāyaṃ babhūvāṅguṣṭhamātrakaḥ ||
ಸುರಸೆಯು ತನ್ನ ಬಾಯಿಯನ್ನು ನೂರು ಯೋಜನಗಳಷ್ಟು ವಿಸ್ತರಿಸಿ, “ನನ್ನ ಶಿಖರಗಳ ಮೇಲೆ ವಿಶ್ರಾಂತಿ ಪಡೆದು ನಂತರ ಉಳಿದ ಮಾರ್ಗಕ್ಕೆ ಹೊರಡು” ಎಂದಳು. ಆ ಬಾಯಿಯು ಬಿಚ್ಚಿಕೊಂಡಿರುವುದನ್ನು ಕಂಡು—ದೀರ್ಘಜಿಹ್ವೆಯುಳ್ಳದು, ಅತಿಭಯಂಕರ, ನರಕಸಮಾನ—ವಾಯುಪುತ್ರನಾದ ಸುಬುದ್ಧಿ ಹನುಮಾನ್ ಕ್ಷಣಮಾತ್ರದಲ್ಲಿ ದೇಹವನ್ನು ಸಂಕುಚಿಸಿ ಅಂಗುಷ್ಠಮಾತ್ರನಾದನು.
Intelligent Hanuman observing Surasa's enlarged mouth open and dreadful like hell with a long tongue, suddenly shrunk his body to the size of a thumb.
FAQs
Dharma is achieved through wisdom and restraint: Hanumān chooses a non-destructive, skillful solution—minimizing harm while fulfilling the condition of the test and continuing his righteous mission.
Surasā expands to an immense size and attempts to compel compliance; Hanumān counters not by force but by suddenly shrinking, preparing to enter and exit swiftly.
Practical intelligence (buddhi) joined to self-control: Hanumān’s ability to change size symbolizes mastery over self and circumstance.