Shloka 4.55.19
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।
bhrātur jyeṣṭhasya yo bhāryāṁ jīvato mahiṣīṁ priyām |
dharmeṇa mātaraṁ yas tu svīkaroti jugupsitaḥ ||
kathaṁ sa dharmaṁ jānīte yena bhrātrā mahātmanā |
yuddhāyābhiniyuktena bilasya pihitaṁ mukham ||
Despicable is he who, while his elder brother yet lives, takes to himself that brother’s beloved queen and wife—who by Dharma should be revered as a mother. How can such a man know righteousness, he who even sealed the cave’s mouth while his noble brother was engaged in battle within?
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.
The verse asserts the dharmic boundary of kinship: an elder brother’s wife is to be treated as mother-like; violating this is adharma and undermines moral authority.
The monkey leaders, despairing after their delay, justify their anger by recalling Sugrīva’s earlier wrongs against Vāli and questioning his righteousness.
Respect for familial dharma and loyalty—especially honouring the elder brother and maintaining moral restraint.