Ramayana — Kishkindha Kanda, Sarga 55, Shloka 19
अङ्गदस्य प्रायोपवेशननिश्चयः
Angada’s Resolve to Fast unto Death
मतं तद्वालिपुत्रस्य विज्ञाय प्लवगर्षभाः।।।।उपस्पृश्योदकं तत्र प्राङ्मुखास्समुपाविशन्।दक्षिणाग्रेषु दर्भेषु उदक्तीरं समाश्रिताः।।।।मुमूर्षवो हरिश्रेष्ठा एतत् क्षममिति स्म ह।
mataṁ tad vāliputrasya vijñāya plavagarṣabhāḥ |
upaspṛśyodakaṁ tatra prāṅmukhāḥ samupāviśan |
dakṣiṇāgreṣu darbheṣu udaktīraṁ samāśritāḥ |
mumūrṣavo hariśreṣṭhā etat kṣamam iti sma ha ||
Knowing the decision of Vāli’s son, those foremost of monkeys—ready to die—sipped water and sat together there on darbha grass with its tips laid to the south, facing east, having gathered on the northern shore; saying, “This is fitting.”
Overtaken by the fear of death, the monkeys kept talking about Rama's exile into the forest, Dasaratha's death, destruction of demons in Janasthana, the death of Jatayu, abduction of Sita, Vali's death and Rama's anger.
FAQs
It shows a dharma-coded ritual posture (water-sipping, darbha, orientation) applied to a tragic resolve; the epic also implicitly questions whether despair-driven self-destruction truly serves dharma.
After accepting Aṅgada’s decision, the monkey leaders formally prepare to undertake the fast unto death together.
Group solidarity and determination, expressed through ritual discipline.