Hanuman Quenches His Tail and Returns Small before Sita
Sundara Kanda, Doha 26
Doha 26 · Movement 2 of 2
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Hanuman enters the ocean and extinguishes the fire that has crossed Lanka upon his tail. Water closes over the instrument of destruction and ends the blaze upon his body.
He casts off weariness and releases the immense form used above the rooftops. Once more the son of the wind becomes small enough to stand gently within the Ashoka grove.
With hands folded, he appears before Janaka's daughter. The roaring destroyer of the city returns to the posture of a servant before his mother, ready to receive the token that must cross the sea in the opposite direction.
The city-burning form dissolves in the ocean, and the small servant stands again with folded hands before Sita.
Read the passage from the Manas
पूँछ बुझाइ खोइ श्रम धरि लघु रूप बहोरि। जनकसुता के आगें ठाढ़ भयउ कर जोरि।।26।।
Extinguishing his tail and shaking off all fatigue, then assuming once more a small form, Hanuman stood before Sita, daughter of Janaka, with his hands folded in reverence.