Hanuman was flying further along when a huge demoness, Surasa, blocked his path. Surasa was the mother of serpents and had been sent to test Hanuman. She opened her mouth wide to devour him, but the wider she opened it, the larger grew Hanuman. Then when she had opened it at its widest, Hanuman shrank himself into a tiny size and shot through her mouth. Surasa resumed her real size and smiled at Hanuman, saying, “I had been sent by the gods to test your intelligence, Hanuman. You are truly very sharp! Go peacefully and may you be successful in your mission!” Having fulfilled her requirement of passing through her mouth safely, Surasa blessed him and he went forward to complete his task. Surasa went to inform the gods how Hanuman had passed the test successfully.
Surasa Tests Hanuman
