Thai Rubbing from the East Wall of the Temple of Wat Po, Bangkok: Hanuman Increasing in Size to Test the Rishi Narada's Powers
On arriving at the island of Longka, Hanuman decides against going direct to the demon city and lands in stead on the Solot Hills, where the hermit Nart lives. Having taken on the appearance of an ordinary woodland monkey, Hanuman approaches the hermit and greets him diffidently. He spins him a likely story to account for his leaving the forests of the mainland and then says with an assumed frankness, "To tell the truth, I've heard that Longka is a place where one can advance oneself and at the same time have some fun. I must say, I hope to get a position with the demon king and perhaps earn myself a wife." The hermit laughs at the ingenuous monkey and tells him that if he has dealings with the demons of Longka, he will be lucky to escape with the hide on his back. As to winning a wife, well, he just roars with laughter at the very idea. Still chuckling to himself, the hermit tells Hanuman he may put up for the night at his nearby meditation cell, and advises him to change his mind about going to the demon city before the new day dawns.
