As the weary band of monkeys faced their dire predicament, a great bird, greedy for food, gazed upon them and declared, “I shall eat, one after another, the monkeys who have died.” Hearing these ominous words, Angada, overcome with distress, turned to Hanuman and spoke with a heavy heart, “See how, by Sita’s fate, Yama—the god of death himself—has come upon us here, intent on destroying the monkeys.” He continued, “Rama’s mission remains unfinished, the king’s command unfulfilled, and now, without warning, this calamity has befallen us, catching us completely unaware. Out of love for Vaidehī, it was Jatayu, the king of vultures, who performed a noble deed; everything we heard from him has been recounted in full. In the same way, all beings—even those born in animal forms—sacrifice themselves for what is dear to Rama, just as we have done.” Angada reflected on the nature of selfless service: “Driven by affection and compassion, creatures aid one another; thus, for the sake of service, one willingly gives up one’s life. Indeed, Jatayu, who understood righteousness, did what was dear to Rama; and for Raghava’s sake, we too, exhausted, have abandoned hope of life. We have ventured deep into the wilderness and cannot see Maithili; yet the king of vultures is truly fortunate, for he died in battle at Ravana’s hands, freed from fear of Sugriva, and has attained the highest state.” He mourned the losses that had shaken their world: “With the deaths of Jatayu and King Dasharatha, and the abduction of Vaidehī, the monkeys are left in doubt. Rama and Lakshmana’s exile in the forest with Sita, the slaying of Vali by Raghava’s arrow, the destruction of all the Rakshasas by Rama’s wrath, and the confusion wrought by Kaikeyi’s boons—these have all led to our present suffering.” Having spoken these sorrowful words, Angada looked upon the fallen monkeys, and the great king of vultures, his mind deeply troubled, uttered pitiful words. Hearing Angada’s lament, the sharp-beaked, loud-voiced vulture cried out, “Who is this who speaks of the death of my brother Jatayu, dearer to me than life itself, shaking my very heart? How did the battle unfold at Janasthana between the Rakshasa and the vulture? Only today, after so long, do I hear my brother’s name.” The vulture pleaded, “I wish to be brought down from this mountain stronghold by you, who are younger, virtuous, and renowned for valor. After such a long time, my heart is moved by this tale; please, best of monkeys, tell me how my brother met his end. Tell me also of my brother Jatayu, who dwelt at Janasthana, and of his friend Dasharatha—how fares he?” He continued, “For whom Rama, the beloved eldest son, is so precious—alas, my wings are scorched by the sun’s rays and I cannot fly. O destroyers of foes, I wish to descend from this mountain.” Thus concludes the fifty-sixth sarga, and the fifty-seventh begins. Even as the vulture’s voice, broken by grief, reached their ears, the leaders of the monkey troops remained wary. Suspicious of his intentions, they doubted his words, for as they sat down to fast, the monkeys resolved grimly, “He will devour us all. If, as we fast, he does not eat us, then perhaps our mission will be fulfilled and we may yet succeed.” With this in mind, the monkey leaders made their decision. Angada, descending from the mountain peak, addressed the vulture, saying, “O bird, there was once a powerful monkey king named Riksharaja, my noble ancestor. His two sons, Sugriva and Vali, were both righteous and mighty. Vali, my father, became renowned for his deeds.” He continued, “Rama, the great chariot-warrior of the Ikshvaku line and son of Dasharatha, entered the Dandaka forest with his brother Lakshmana and wife Sita, devotedly following his father’s command and the path of righteousness. Then Ravana seized Sita by force from Janasthana. Rama’s father’s friend, the king of vultures named Jatayu, saw Sita, the daughter of Videha, being carried away through the sky. Old and weary, Jatayu made Ravana lose his chariot and set Maithili down, but was slain in battle by Ravana.” “Thus, that vulture was killed by the powerful Ravana; honored by Rama, he attained the highest state. Rama then formed a friendship with my uncle Sugriva, the great-souled one, who had been confined by my father Vali. Rama slew Vali and installed Sugriva as king. Thus established, Sugriva became lord of the monkeys and sent us chief monkeys out on this quest.” “We were sent by Rama to search everywhere for Sita, but we could not find her, just as one cannot see the sun’s rays at night. We searched the Dandaka forest thoroughly, but unknowingly entered a cave that had opened in the earth by Maya’s magic. There, the month allotted by the king passed away. Now, having exceeded the set time, we have resorted to fasting out of fear. If Rama, descendant of Kakutstha, is angered, and Sugriva and Lakshmana as well, then for all of us gathered here, there is no hope of life.” Thus, the tale of sorrow, loyalty, and the trials faced by Rama’s devoted allies unfolded on that lonely mountainside, as the monkeys and the vulture shared their grief and pondered their uncertain fate.