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 ||
Ayant compris la décision du fils de Vāli, les plus éminents des singes—prêts à mourir—accomplirent le rite de l’eau en en prenant une gorgée, puis s’assirent ensemble, tournés vers l’est, sur l’herbe darbha aux pointes dirigées vers le sud, rassemblés sur la rive nord, disant : «Ceci est convenable».
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.