Shloka 4

अङ्गदस्य प्रायोपवेशननिश्चयः

Angada’s Resolve to Fast unto Death

Devanagari script

भ्रातुर्ज्येष्ठस्य यो भार्यां जीवतो महिषीं प्रियाम्।धर्मेण मातरं यस्तु स्वीकरोति जुगुप्सितः।।4.55.3।।कथं स धर्मं जानीते येन भ्रात्रा महात्मना।युद्धायाभिनियुक्तेन बिलस्य पिहितं मुखम्।।4.55.4।।

Transliteration

sa saṁviśadbhir bahubhir mahīdharo mahādrikūṭa-pratimaiḥ plavaṅgamaiḥ |

babhūva sannādita-nirdarāntaro bhṛśaṁ nadadbhir jaladair ivolbaṇaiḥ ||

Translation

وہاں بے شمار پلَوَنگم—جو بلند پہاڑی چوٹیوں کے مانند تھے—لیٹ گئے اور زور سے گرجنے لگے؛ اس گرج سے اس مہیدھر (پہاڑ) کی غاریں اور درّے اندر تک گونج اٹھے، جیسے سخت طوفانی بادلوں کی ہیبت ناک گرج ہو۔

Word by Word

सत्यात्truly / from truth

पाणिगृहीतःone whose hand was taken (in marriage)

चand

कृतकर्माone who has rendered service / done his duty

महायशाःgreatly renowned

विस्मृतःforgotten

राघवःRama

येनby whom

सःhe

कस्यof whom

तुindeed

कृतम्a deed (done) / service

स्मरेत्would remember

Context

'He usurped his elder brother's queen, while he was still alive. It is morally abominable since an elder brother's wife is like a mother. How can a person who blocks the entrance of a cave while his noble brother is engaged in fighting inside be treated as righteous?

Characters & Entities

monkeys (plavaṅgama)

mountain (mahīdhara)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Though primarily poetic, it frames the moral crisis: collective despair becomes a force of nature, underscoring how dharma-failure (real or feared) shakes the community.

What is the narrative situation?

The sarga concludes with a vivid description of the monkeys’ loud lament as they lie down to undertake the fast.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Not a single virtue, but the intensity of communal emotion—lament and resolve—rendered through epic imagery.