SECTION CXLIX

"Bhimasena said, 'Without beholding thy former shape, I will never go
away. If I have found favour with thee, do thou then show me thine own
shape.'"

Vaisampayana continued, "Being thus addressed by Bhima, the monkey with
a smile showed him that form of his in which he had bounded over the
main. And wishing to gratify his 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