of Yama.' Thereat, with a smile he slightingly took hold of the tail
with his left hand; but could not move that tail of the mighty monkey.
Then with both arms he pulled it, resembling the pole reared in honour
of Indra. Still the mighty Bhima could not raise the tail with both his
arms. And his eye-brows were contracted up, and his eyes rolled, and his
face was contracted into wrinkles and his body was covered with sweat;
and yet he could not raise it. And when after having striven, the
illustrious Bhima failed in raising the tail, he approached the side of
the monkey, and stood with a bashful countenance. And bowing down,
Kunti's son, with joined hands, spake these words, 'Relent thou, O
foremost of monkeys; and forgive me for my harsh words. Art thou a
Siddha, or a god, or a Gandharva, or a Guhyaka? I ask thee out of
curiosity. Tell me who thou art that hast assumed the shape of monkey,
if it be not a secret, O long-armed one, and if I can well hear it. I
ask thee as a disciple, and I, O sinless one, seek thy refuge.'
Thereupon Hanuman said, 'O represser of foes, even to the extent of thy
curiosity to know me, shall I relate all at length. Listen, O son of
Pandu! O lotus-eyed one, I was begotten by the windgod that life of the
world--upon the wife of Kesari. I am a monkey, by name Hanuman. All the
mighty monkey-kings, and monkey-chiefs used to wait upon that son of the
sun, Sugriva, and that son of Sakra, Vali. And, O represser of foes, a
friendship subsisted between me and Sugriva, even as between the wind
and fire. And for some cause, Sugriva, driven out by his brother, for a
long time dwelt with me at the Hri-syamukh. And it came to pass that the
mighty son of Dasaratha the heroic Rama, who is Vishnu's self in the
shape of a human being, took his birth in this world. And in company
with his queen and brother, taking his bow, that foremost of bowmen with
the view of compassing his father's welfare, began to reside in the
Dandaka forest. And from Janasthana, that mighty Rakshasa monarch, the
wicked Ravana, carried away his (Rama's) queen by stratagem and force,