Verse 2.1
जात पवनसुत देवन्ह देखा। जानैं कहुँ बल बुद्धि बिसेषा॥
सुरसा नाम अहिन्ह कै माता। पठइन्हि आइ कही तेहिं बाता॥ १ ॥
jāta pavanasuta devanha dekhā jānaiṁ kahum̐ bala buddhi biseṣhā
surasā nāma ahinha kai mātā paṭhainhi āi kahī tehiṁ bātā
Translation
The gods watched the son of the wind go, and to learn the full measure of his strength and intelligence, they sent Surasa, the mother of serpents. She came and said this to him:
Hindi Meaning (हिंदी अर्थ)
देवताओं ने पवनपुत्र को जाते देखा। उनके बल और बुद्धि की विशेष परीक्षा लेने के लिए उन्होंने सर्पों की माता सुरसा को भेजा। उसने आकर उनसे यह बात कही:
Commentary
In the Manas the first obstacle is a test set by the gods, not an enemy. They want to know whether Hanuman has buddhi (intelligence) as well as bala (strength), since the mission in Lanka will need both.
Verse 2.2
आजु सुरन्ह मोहि दीन्ह अहारा। सुनत बचन कह पवनकुमारा॥
राम काजु करि फिरि मैं आवौं। सीता कइ सुधि प्रभुहि सुनावौं॥ २ ॥
āju suranha mohi dīnha ahārā sunata bachana kaha pavanakumārā
rāma kāju kari phiri maiṁ āvauṁ sītā kai sudhi prabhuhi sunāvauṁ
Translation
"Today the gods have given me my food." Hearing this, the son of the wind said, "Let me first do Rama's work, come back, and give my Lord news of Sita.
Hindi Meaning (हिंदी अर्थ)
"आज देवताओं ने मुझे भोजन दिया है।" यह सुनकर पवनकुमार बोले, "मुझे पहले राम का काम करके लौट आने दो और प्रभु को सीता जी का समाचार सुना लेने दो।
Commentary
Hanuman's first response is to negotiate, not fight. He does not deny Surasa's claim; he only asks for the work to come first.
Verse 2.3
तब तव बदन पैठिहउँ आई। सत्य कहउँ मोहि जान दे माई॥
कवनेहुँ जतन देइ नहिं जाना। ग्रससि न मोहि कहेउ हनुमाना॥ ३ ॥
taba tava badana paiṭhihaum̐ āī satya kahaum̐ mohi jāna de māī
kavanehum̐ jatana dei nahiṁ jānā grasasi na mohi kaheu hanumānā
Translation
"Then I will come and enter your mouth. I tell you truly, mother, let me go now." When she would not let him go by any means, Hanuman said, "Then why don't you swallow me?"
Hindi Meaning (हिंदी अर्थ)
"फिर मैं आकर तुम्हारे मुँह में समा जाऊँगा। माता! मैं सच कहता हूँ, अभी मुझे जाने दो।" जब किसी भी उपाय से उसने जाने नहीं दिया, तब हनुमान जी ने कहा, "तो फिर मुझे निगल क्यों नहीं लेती?"
Commentary
He calls her "mother" (mai) even while she threatens to eat him, which is typical of Hanuman's courtesy. When patience fails he turns the challenge back on her.
Verse 2.4
जोजन भरि तेहिं बदनु पसारा। कपि तनु कीन्ह दुगुन बिस्तारा॥
सोरह जोजन मुख तेहिं ठयऊ। तुरत पवनसुत बत्तिस भयऊ॥ ४ ॥
jojana bhari tehiṁ badanu pasārā kapi tanu kīnha duguna bistārā
soraha jojana mukha tehiṁ ṭhayaū turata pavanasuta battisa bhayaū
Translation
She opened her mouth a yojana wide; the monkey made his body twice as large. She made her mouth sixteen yojanas; the son of the wind at once became thirty-two.
Hindi Meaning (हिंदी अर्थ)
उसने एक योजन तक मुँह फैलाया, तो कपि ने अपना शरीर उससे दुगुना कर लिया। उसने सोलह योजन का मुँह किया, तो पवनपुत्र तुरंत बत्तीस योजन के हो गए।
Commentary
A yojana is a traditional measure of distance, usually reckoned at about eight to twelve kilometres. The numbers are there to show the contest escalating, with Hanuman always staying one step ahead.
Verse 2.5
जस जस सुरसा बदनु बढ़ावा। तासु दून कपि रूप देखावा॥
सत जोजन तेहिं आनन कीन्हा। अति लघु रूप पवनसुत लीन्हा॥ ५ ॥
jasa jasa surasā badanu baṛhāvā tāsu dūna kapi rūpa dekhāvā
sata jojana tehiṁ ānana kīnhā ati laghu rūpa pavanasuta līnhā
Translation
As fast as Surasa widened her mouth, the monkey showed a form twice as large. When she made her mouth a hundred yojanas wide, the son of the wind took a very tiny form.
Hindi Meaning (हिंदी अर्थ)
जैसे-जैसे सुरसा मुँह बढ़ाती गई, कपि उससे दुगुना रूप दिखाते गए। जब उसने सौ योजन का मुँह किया, तब पवनपुत्र ने बहुत छोटा रूप धारण कर लिया।
Commentary
This is the moment of buddhi. Growing larger could go on forever; the clever solution is to become tiny. The Sundarkand returns to this idea often: Hanuman becomes small when smallness serves the task.
Verse 2.6
बदन पइठि पुनि बाहेर आवा। मागा बिदा ताहि सिरु नावा॥
मोहि सुरन्ह जेहि लागि पठावा। बुधि बल मरमु तोर मैं पावा॥ ६ ॥
badana paiṭhi puni bāhera āvā māgā bidā tāhi siru nāvā
mohi suranha jehi lāgi paṭhāvā budhi bala maramu tora maiṁ pāvā
Translation
He entered her mouth and came straight out again, bowed his head, and asked leave to go. She said, "I have found out the secret of your intelligence and strength, which is what the gods sent me for.
Hindi Meaning (हिंदी अर्थ)
वे उसके मुँह में घुसकर तुरंत बाहर निकल आए और सिर नवाकर विदा माँगी। सुरसा बोली, "देवताओं ने मुझे जिसके लिए भेजा था, तुम्हारे बल और बुद्धि का वह भेद मैंने पा लिया।
Commentary
He technically keeps his word, having "entered her mouth", and still bows before leaving. Surasa's admission reveals that the whole episode was an examination.
Verse 2.7
राम काजु सबु करिहहु तुम्ह बल बुद्धि निधान।
आसिष देइ गई सो हरषि चलेउ हनुमान॥ २ ॥
rāma kāju sabu karihahu tumha bala buddhi nidhāna
āsiṣha dei gaī so haraṣhi chaleu hanumāna
Translation
"You will accomplish all of Rama's work, for you are a treasury of strength and wisdom." Giving this blessing, she went away, and Hanuman went on joyfully.
Hindi Meaning (हिंदी अर्थ)
"तुम श्री राम का सब काम करोगे, क्योंकि तुम बल और बुद्धि के भंडार हो।" यह आशीर्वाद देकर वह चली गई, और हनुमान जी प्रसन्न होकर आगे बढ़े।
Commentary
The obstacle ends as a blessing. "Bala buddhi nidhana" echoes the Hanuman Chalisa's "buddhi bibeka bigyana nidhana" and "bala buddhi bidya dehu mohi."
