Shloka 20
अङ्गदस्य प्रायोपवेशननिश्चयः
Angada’s Resolve to Fast unto Death
मतं तद्वालिपुत्रस्य विज्ञाय प्लवगर्षभाः।।4.55.19।।उपस्पृश्योदकं तत्र प्राङ्मुखास्समुपाविशन्।दक्षिणाग्रेषु दर्भेषु उदक्तीरं समाश्रिताः।।4.55.20।।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 ||
Als sie den Entschluss von Vālis Sohn vernahmen, vollzogen die vornehmsten Affen—zum Sterben entschlossen—das rituelle Schlucken von Wasser und setzten sich, nach Osten gewandt, auf Darbha-Gras mit den Spitzen nach Süden, am nördlichen Ufer versammelt, und bekräftigten: „So ist es richtig.“
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
Ritual form is used to frame a moral crisis; dharma is portrayed as not merely intention but also disciplined conduct—yet the narrative tension remains about choosing death over duty.
This verse repeats the description of the monkeys’ ritual seating for the fast, a feature consistent with some Southern Recension transmissions.
Discipline and unanimity in decision.