| The hair of
Hanumaan's body stood on end and he roared and lashed his tail on the ground. He
contracted his hind parts, held his breath, pressed down his feet, folded his ears and
stiffened his muscles. Then with a roar of triumph he rose into the sky and like Garuda
flew with the speed of Raama's arrow. With the momentum of his speed, many trees were
uprooted and followed in his wake. Like friends who speed a parting guest, they
accompanied him a little way, showering down their flowers, and dropped. One by one the trees that followed Hanumaan fell into the sea like
the mountains which of old were pursued by Indra and denuded of their wings. Covered with
bright-coloured flowers the sea shone like the sky with its stars. Hanumaan's arms with
their outspread hands as he flew through the sky appeared like two five headed cobras. He
seemed to swallow the sky as he flew forward. His eyes glistened like mountain forests on
fire. His red nose shone like the evening sun. |
