Shloka 11

अङ्गदस्य प्रायोपवेशननिश्चयः

Angada’s Resolve to Fast unto Death

Devanagari script

बन्धनाद्वाऽवसादान्मे श्रेयः प्रायोपवेशनम्।अनुजानीत मां सर्वे गृहं गच्छन्तु वानराः।।।।

Transliteration

bandhanād vā avasādān me śreyaḥ prāyopaveśanam |

anujānīta māṃ sarve gṛhaṃ gacchantu vānarāḥ ||

Translation

Đối với ta, thà tuyệt thực đến chết còn hơn là bị giam cầm hay chịu nhục nhã. Hãy cho phép ta làm điều này; tất cả các Vanara hãy trở về nhà.

Word by Word

• bandhanāt: from imprisonment
• bandhanāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bandhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• vā: or
• vā: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Disjunctive particle (विकल्पार्थक निपात)

• avasādāt: from despair/suffering
• avasādāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: avasāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• me: for me / of me
• me: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• śreyaḥ: better
• śreyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śreyas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); comparative noun ‘better’

• prāya-upaveśanam: fasting unto death
• prāya-upaveśanam: Karta (कर्ता) (predicate complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prāya (प्रातिपदिक) + upaveśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: prāyasya upaveśanam ‘fasting unto death’

• anujānīta: permit (you all)
• anujānīta: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu-√jñā (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• sarve: all (of you)
• sarve: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative/Nominative plural form; here Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Plural (बहुवचन) addressing group

• gṛham: home
• gṛham: Karma (कर्म) (goal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• gacchantu: let them go
• gacchantu: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• vānarāḥ: monkeys
• vānarāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

Context

'It is better for me to fast unto death rather than suffer imprisonment. Permit me to do so. You may all go back.

Characters & Entities

• Angada
• Vānaras

FAQs

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

It reflects the ancient idea of prāyopaveśa as a chosen response to perceived dishonor and unavoidable suffering—raising questions about duty, responsibility, and the ethics of self-withdrawal.

What is the narrative situation?

Believing the mission has failed and fearing punishment, Angada asks permission to fast unto death and tells the others to return.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

A severe form of honor-bound resolve (māna/ātmasaṃkalpa), though shaded by despair.