become degenerate, in consequence of impiety.  O son of Kunti, in the Kali Yuga a quarter only of virtue abideth.  And in the beginning of this iron age, Narayana weareth a black hue.  And the Vedas and the institutes, and virtue, and sacrifices, and religious observances, fall into disuse.  And (then) reign iti[1], and disease, and lassitude, and anger and other deformities, and natural calamities, and anguish, and fear of scarcity.  And as the yugas wane, virtue dwindles.  And as virtue dwindles away, creatures degenerate.  And as creatures degenerate, their natures undergo deterioration.  And the religious acts performed at the waning of the yugas, produce contrary effects.  And even those that live for several yugas, conform to these changes.  O represser of foes, as regards thy curiosity to know me, I say this,—­Why should a wise person be eager to know a superfluous matter? (Thus), O long-armed one, have I narrated in full what thou hadst asked me regarding the characteristics of the different yugas.  Good happen to thee!  Do thou return.’”

    [1] Iti means these six things, unfavourable to crops—­excessive
    rain, drought, rats, locusts, birds, and a neighbouring hostile
    king.

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.’”