Shloka 3
अङ्गदस्य प्रायोपवेशननिश्चयः
Angada’s Resolve to Fast unto Death
भ्रातुर्ज्येष्ठस्य यो भार्यां जीवतो महिषीं प्रियाम्।धर्मेण मातरं यस्तु स्वीकरोति जुगुप्सितः।।।।कथं स धर्मं जानीते येन भ्रात्रा महात्मना।युद्धायाभिनियुक्तेन बिलस्य पिहितं मुखम्।।।।
bhrātur jyeṣṭhasya yo bhāryāṁ jīvato mahiṣīṁ priyām |
dharmeṇa mātaraṁ yas tu svīkaroti jugupsitaḥ ||
kathaṁ sa dharmaṁ jānīte yena bhrātrā mahātmanā |
yuddhāyābhiniyuktena bilasya pihitaṁ mukham ||
जो जिवंत ज्येष्ठ भावाची प्रिय महिषी-राणी पत्नी—धर्माने माता समान—स्वतःकडे घेतो, तो निंद्य आहे। ज्याने महात्मा भावाला युद्धात गुंतलेले असताना गुहेचे तोंड बंद केले, तो धर्म कसा जाणेल?
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
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.