Shloka 18
अङ्गदस्य प्रायोपवेशननिश्चयः
Angada’s Resolve to Fast unto Death
सुग्रीवं चैव निन्दन्तः प्रशंसन्तश्च वालिनम्।।।।परिवार्याङ्गदं सर्वे व्यवसन्प्रायमासितुम्।
sugrīvaṁ caiva nindantaḥ praśaṁsantaś ca vālinam |
parivāryāṅgadaṁ sarve vyavasan prāyam āsitum ||
وهم يلومون سُغْرِيفا ويمدحون فالي، التفّوا جميعًا حول أَنْغَدَا وعزموا أن يجلسوا في «برَايا»؛ صومًا حتى الموت.
With the opinion of Vali's son ascertained, all the great monkeys thought it proper to die. They sipped water and assembled on the northern shore of the sea facing the east with the darbha grass spread on the ground, their edges pointing southward.
FAQs
It highlights the gravity of accountability: when duty is believed to have failed and punishment seems inevitable, they choose prāya as a form of responsibility—though it arises from despair rather than constructive dharma.
Angada’s party, having not secured Sītā’s whereabouts, fear Rāma’s wrath and, in hopelessness, decide to end their lives by fasting.
A harsh form of resolve (niścaya), though misdirected—showing how fear can distort dharmic decision-making.