Shloka 4.55.20
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।
sugrīvaṁ caiva nindantaḥ praśaṁsantaś ca vālinam |
parivāryāṅgadaṁ sarve vyavasan prāyam āsitum ||
Blaming Sugrīva and praising Vāli, they all gathered around Aṅgada and resolved to sit in prāya—fasting unto death.
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.
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.