What are the three obstacles on the path of devotion?

Jalanidhi raghupati dūta bicārī, taĭ maināka hohi śramahār

The ocean, considering Hanumanji as Lord Ram’s messenger, told the mountain Mainak to provide Hanumanji rest on the mountain. Mainak came out of the ocean from where he was hiding. It is said that mountains used to be able to fly before from one place to another due to frequent geographical changes. There is a Katha that the movement of mountains would lead to killing of many people. Hence, Indra cut the wings of all the mountains so that they became immovable. At that time, Mainak hid in the ocean.

Today, Mainak revealed himself and his gold tip. He requested Hanumanji to eat something and rest on him for a little while.

The rich people of the society will give a large amount of luxuries to those who embark on God’s service. However, if the devotee gets trapped in these materialistic luxuries, one will not progress. 
Hence, Hanumanji accepted Mainak’s request respectfully but did not rest on him. He said, “I have left for Lord Ram’s work. How can I rest?

Hanūmāna tehi parasā kara punhi kīnha pranāma,
Rāma kāju kīnhĕ binu mohi kahā biśrāma.

On his search for Maa Sita, Hanumanji comes across three obstacles: one in the sky, the ocean and the land.

The first from the sky is Sursa.

Surasā nāma ahinhakai mātā, paṭhainhi āi kahī tehĭ bātā

Sursa is the mother of snakes. She has been sent by the demi-gods to test how much power and intellect Hanumanji possesses. Sursa opened her mouth and said,

āju suranha mihi dīnha ahārā, sonata bacana kaha pavanakumārā,
Rāma kāju kari phiri maĭ āvaῠ, sītā kai sudhi prabhuhi sunāvaῠ.

“The demi-gods have provided me with food today. I will eat you.”

Hanumanji replied, “I need to complete Lord Ram’s work. If you want to eat me, I will return to you after I complete His work. Let me go for now.”

“Do you think I am foolish?” Sursa said, “Why would you return if I let you go? No! I will eat you right now!”

“Hurry up then. I don’t have time.”

Sursa opened her mouth wide to match Hanumanji’s huge size. In return, Hanumanji doubled himself. Sursa double her mouth and Hanumanji quadrupled in size. When Sursa opened her mouth as wide as 64 yojan (Vedic measure of distance equivalent to 4miles), Hanumanji thought, if I double this, one of my foot will be in Lanka and the other in Kishkindha. So, immediately, Hanumanji became very small, entered Sursa’s mouth, came out and said, “Here Maa, I have fulfilled your desire of becoming your prey. Now let me go.”

Sursa was pleased to see Hanumanji’s cleverness and blessed him to go and succeed in Lord Ram’s task.

Sursa symbolises desires. A spiritual seeker always faces materialistic desires as one’s first obstacle. Desires increase the more you fulfil them and reduce them more you decrease them. The more you contemplate on how to get rid of your desires and try to run away from them, the more they remain in your mind. Therefore, do not attempt to run away from desires; concentrate on God, His name and leelas instead.