The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa | Page 6

brother, Hanuman
assumed a gigantic body which (both) in length and breadth increased
exceedingly. And that monkey of immeasurable effulgence stood there,
covering the plantain grove furnished with trees, and elevating himself
to the height reached by the Vindhya. And the monkey, having attained
his lofty and gigantic body like unto a mountain, furnished with
coppery eyes, and sharp teeth, and a face marked by frown, lay
covering all sides and lashing his long tail. And that son of the Kurus,
Bhima, beholding that gigantic form of his brother, wondered, and the

hairs of his body repeatedly stood on end. And beholding him like unto
the sun in splendour, and unto a golden mountain, and also unto the
blazing firmament, Bhima closed his eyes. Thereupon Hanuman
addressed Bhima with a smile, saying, 'O sinless one, thou art capable
of beholding my size up to this extent. I can, however, go on swelling
my size as long as I wish. And, O Bhima, amidst foes, my size
increaseth exceedingly by its own energy.'"
Vaisampayana said, "Witnessing that dreadful and wonderful body of
Hanuman, like unto the Vindhya mountain, the son of the wind-god
became bewildered. Then with his down standing erect, the
noble-minded Bhima, joining his hands, replied unto Hanuman saying
(there), 'O lord, by me have been beheld the vast dimensions of thy
body. Do thou (now), O highly powerful one, decrease thyself by thy
own power. Surely I cannot look at thee, like unto the sun risen, and of
immeasurable (power), and irrepressible, and resembling the mountain
Mainaka. O hero, to-day this wonder of my heart is very great, that
thou remaining by his side, Rama should have encountered Ravana
personally. Depending on the strength of thy arms, thou wert capable of
instantly destroying Lanka, with its warriors, and horses, elephants and
chariots. Surely, O son of the wind-god, there is nothing that is
incapable of being achieved by thee; and in fight, Ravana together with
his followers was no match for thee single-handed.'"
Vaisampayana continued, "Thus addressed by Bhima, Hanuman, the
chief of monkeys, answered in affectionate words uttered in solemn
accents. 'O mighty-armed one, O Bharata, it is even as thou sayest. O
Bhimasena, that worst of Rakshasas was no match for me. But if I had
slain Ravana--that thorn of the worlds--the glory of Raghu's son would
have been obscured;--and for this it is that I left him alone. By slaying
that lord of the Rakshasas together with his followers, and bringing
back Sita unto his own city, that hero hath established his fame among
men. Now, O highly wise one, being intent on the welfare of thy
brothers, and protected by the wind-god, do thou go along a fortunate
and auspicious way. O foremost of the Kurus, this way will lead thee to
the Saugandhika wood. (Proceeding in this direction), thou wilt behold
the gardens of Kuvera, guarded by Yakshas and Rakshasas. Do thou

not pluck the flowers (there) personally by thy own force; for the gods
deserve regard specially from mortals. O best of the Bharata race, the
gods confer their favour (upon men), (being propitiated) by offerings,
and homas, and reverential salutations, and recitation of mantras, and
veneration, O Bharata. Do thou not, therefore, act with rashness, O
child; and do thou not deviate from the duties of thy order. Sticking to
the duties of thy order, do thou understand and follow the highest
morality. Without knowing duties and serving the old, even persons
like unto Vrihaspati cannot understand profit and religion. One should
ascertain with discrimination those cases in which vice goeth under the
name of virtue, and virtue goeth under the name of vice,--(cases) in
which people destitute of intelligence become perplexed. From
religious observances proceedeth merit; and in merit are established the
Vedas; and from the Vedas sacrifices come into existence; and by
sacrifices are established the gods. The gods are maintained by the
(celebration of) sacrifices prescribed by the Vedas and the religious
ordinances; while men maintain themselves by (following) the
ordinances of Vrihaspati and Usanas and also by these avocations, by
which the world is maintained,--serving for wages, (receiving) taxes,
merchandise, agriculture and tending kine and sheep. The world
subsisteth by profession. The (study of the) three Vedas and agriculture
and trade and government constitutes, it is ordained by the wise, the
professions of the twice born ones; and each order maintaineth itself by
following the profession prescribed for it. And when these callings are
properly pursued, the world is maintained with ease. If, however,
people do not righteously lead their lives, the world becometh lawless,
in consequence of the want of Vedic merit and government. And if
people do not resort to (their) prescribed vocations, they perish, but by
regularly following the three professions, they bring about religion. The