THE SEARCH BEGINS

He spread on the ground the kusa grass in the manner prescribed for the vow of death, bowed to the gods and the dead and sat facing east, determined to die.

When Angada the Yuvaraaja took this vow and sat in the posture of a fast unto death, the other Vaanaras cried in grief and, resolving also to fast with him-and die, sat facing east.

From a neighbouring hill, Sampaati, the vulture King, saw this crowd of Vaanaras, resigning *themselves to fate. Having lost his wings and being unable to move, Sampaati had been famishing for a long time. He now rejoiced, saying to himself, "So many monkeys are going to die here together. I shall have enough food for a long while without effort."

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