Your uncle, the king of righteousness, is steadfast in his vows and pure in heart. He desires only your happiness, Angada, and is true to his word—he would never bring about your destruction. He lives for what pleases your mother, for she has no other child but you. For her sake, and for your own, you must go to him. Now, let us hear the fifty-fifth chapter in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, in the Kiṣkindhā section. Hanuman, filled with respect and righteousness, spoke words honoring his master. Hearing these, Angada replied, his heart heavy. “Steadfastness, purity, compassion, and honesty, as well as valor and courage—these are not found in Sugrīva,” he said. “He who claims, by law, the beloved wife of his elder brother while that brother still lives, and then treats her as his mother, is despicable. How can such a one know righteousness? He, with evil intent, engaged his own brother in battle and sealed the cave’s entrance against him. “Rāghava, who once clasped his hand in truth, who accomplished great deeds and earned fame, has now been forgotten by him. Who would remember Sugrīva’s good deeds? It was not out of fear of unrighteousness, but only out of fear of Lakṣmaṇa, that he ordered the search for Sītā. How can there be righteousness in such a one? Who among the noble, especially those of noble lineage, would ever trust a person so sinful, ungrateful, forgetful, and fickle-minded? “A son should be established in the kingdom, whether or not he is virtuous. How will Sugrīva ever allow me, born of an enemy’s line, to live? With my counsel disregarded, my power divided, and my support gone, how could I return to Kiṣkindhā and live there, weak and alone? Sugrīva, cruel, deceitful, and merciless, would subject me to secret punishment and bondage for the sake of the kingdom. “For me, imprisonment and humiliation would be worse than fasting unto death. Let all of you, the monkeys, permit me to stay, and you may return home. I promise you, I will not go to the city. I will remain here, fasting unto death, for dying is better for me. “Greet the king and wish him well on my behalf. Offer proper greetings to the two mighty Rāghavas. Convey my regards and wishes for health to my younger brother Sugrīva, lord of the monkeys, to my mother, and to Rumā. And please comfort my mother, Tara. By nature, she is devoted to her son, compassionate, and devoted to austerity. When she hears that I am lost here, she will surely give up her life.” Having spoken thus, and bowing to the elders, Angada, distressed and weeping, lay down upon the darbha grass. The foremost monkeys, seeing him, also wept. Sorrowful, tears of hot water flowed from their eyes. Some blamed Sugrīva, while others praised Vali. All of them gathered around Angada and resolved to undertake the fast unto death, recognizing the words of Vali’s son. Facing east, the foremost monkeys touched water and sat together on darbha grass at the riverbank, desiring death. They said, “This is fitting,” recalling Rama’s exile in the forest and the death of Dasharatha. They remembered, too, the slaughter at Janasthana, the killing of Jatayu, the abduction of Sita, the death of Vali, and the fear that fell upon the monkeys as they spoke of Rama’s wrath. As the many monkeys, resembling mountain peaks, lay down, the mountain itself echoed with their loud cries, like the sky resounding with thunderclouds. Now, let the fifty-sixth chapter be heard. As all the monkeys and the king of vultures sat together on the mountain slope, a vulture named Sampati approached. Renowned for his strength and valor, long-lived, and the brother of Jatayu, Sampati emerged from a cave in the great Vindhya mountain. Seeing the monkeys gathered there, he spoke joyfully, “Indeed, fate governs a man in this world according to its own law; just so, this food, destined for me, has come after a long time. I shall eat, one after another, the monkeys who have died,” said the bird, eyeing the monkeys hungrily. Hearing these words from the bird, greedy for food, Angada, greatly distressed, spoke to Hanuman, “See, by Sita’s fate, Yama himself has come to this place for the destruction of the monkeys. Rāma’s task is not accomplished, nor has the king’s command been fulfilled. This unforeseen disaster has suddenly come upon us, unknown to us. “Out of love for Vaidehī, the deed was done by Jaṭāyu, the king of vultures. What was heard from him has been fully recounted. In the same way, all beings, even those born in animal forms, do what is dear to Rāma, giving up their lives as we have done. Compelled by affection and compassion, they help one another; therefore, for the sake of service, one gives up one’s life willingly. “Indeed, Jaṭāyu, who knows righteousness, did what was dear to Rāma. For Rāghava’s sake, we too, exhausted, have abandoned our lives. We have entered the wilderness and do not see Maithilī; but the king of vultures is fortunate. He was slain in battle by Rāvaṇa, freed from fear of Sugrīva, and has attained the highest state.