Hanuman Reveals His Gigantic Form to Bhima

Bhima had heard his brother's words. But there was something else he wanted — not instruction, but a vision. He asked Hanuman to show him the form he had adopted when he leapt over the ocean. Hanuman smiled. To please his brother, he adopted that gigantic shape. His body grew in length and breadth. The immensely radiant monkey stood as large as a mountain, covering the plantain grove. He became like a second mountain — with copper-coloured eyes, sharp teeth, and eyes marked by frowns. He lashed his long tail and enveloped the directions. Bhima saw his brother's gigantic shape and was astounded. He was repeatedly delighted. But when he saw Hanuman's blazing energy — like the sun, or a golden mountain, or the sky on fire — Bhima closed his eyes. Hanuman smiled and spoke. "O unblemished one! You are capable of seeing my body up to this point. I can go on extending my body, as much as I desire. O Bhima! Amidst enemies, my body becomes gigantic through its own energy." Bhima's soul trembled. Though he was delighted, he was bewildered. He joined his hands in salutation and spoke to Hanuman, who was still established in that form. "O lord! O immensely valorous one! I have seen your extensive body. Now decrease it through your own powers. I am unable to look at you. You are like the rising sun. You are immeasurable. You are as inaccessible as Mount Mainaka." And then the question came — the same one that had been forming in his mind since he first understood who his brother truly was. "O brave one! It is a source of great wonder to me today that, though Rama had you at his side, he had to fight with Ravana himself. With the strength of your arms alone, you were capable of destroying Lanka with its armies and vehicles. O Marut's son! There is nothing that is impossible for you. Ravana, with all his armies, was no match for you in battle."