03.258
रामोपाख्यानम्
The story of Rāma.
मार्कण्डेय उवाच॥
Markandeya said.
प्राप्तमप्रतिमं दुःखं रामेण भरतर्षभ। रक्षसा जानकी तस्य हृता भार्या बलीयसा ॥०३-२५८-१॥
O bull among the Bharatas, Rāma has encountered incomparable sorrow; Jānakī, his wife, has been carried off by a rākṣasa who was stronger than him. (03-258-1)
आश्रमाद्राक्षसेन्द्रेण रावणेन विहायसा। मायामास्थाय तरसा हत्वा गृध्रं जटायुषम् ॥०३-२५८-२॥
Rāvaṇa, the king of the rākṣasas, departing from the hermitage, swiftly flew through the sky using magic, and with force slew the vulture Jaṭāyu. (03-258-2)
प्रत्याजहार तां रामः सुग्रीवबलमाश्रितः। बद्ध्वा सेतुं समुद्रस्य दग्ध्वा लङ्कां शितैः शरैः ॥०३-२५८-३॥
Rāma, relying on Sugrīva's strength, brought her back—having built a bridge across the ocean and having burned Laṅkā with sharp arrows. (03-258-3)
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
कस्मिन्रामः कुले जातः किंवीर्यः किम्पराक्रमः। रावणः कस्य वा पुत्रः किं वैरं तस्य तेन ह ॥०३-२५८-४॥
In which family was Rāma born, what is his valor, and what is his prowess? Of whom is Rāvaṇa the son, and what is the enmity between them? (03-258-4)
एतन्मे भगवन्सर्वं सम्यगाख्यातुमर्हसि। श्रोतुमिच्छामि चरितं रामस्याक्लिष्टकर्मणः ॥०३-२५८-५॥
O revered one, you are worthy to properly tell me all this; I wish to hear the deeds of Rāma of untiring action. (03-258-5)
मार्कण्डेय उवाच॥
Markaṇḍeya said.
अजो नामाभवद्राजा महानिक्ष्वाकुवंशजः। तस्य पुत्रो दशरथः शश्वत्स्वाध्यायवाञ्शुचिः ॥०३-२५८-६॥
A king named Aja, a great descendant of the Ikṣvāku dynasty, was born. His son was Daśaratha, who was constantly devoted to self-study and was pure. (03-258-6)
अभवंस्तस्य चत्वारः पुत्रा धर्मार्थकोविदाः। रामलक्ष्मणशत्रुघ्ना भरतश्च महाबलः ॥०३-२५८-७॥
To him were born four sons, skilled in dharma and artha: Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa, Śatrughna, and Bharata, all of great strength. (03-258-7)
रामस्य माता कौसल्या कैकेयी भरतस्य तु। सुतौ लक्ष्मणशत्रुघ्नौ सुमित्रायाः परन्तपौ ॥०३-२५८-८॥
Kausalyā is the mother of Rāma; Kaikeyī is the mother of Bharata; but Lakṣmaṇa and Śatrughna, the two tormentors of foes, are the sons of Sumitrā. (03-258-8)
विदेहराजो जनकः सीता तस्यात्मजा विभो। यां चकार स्वयं त्वष्टा रामस्य महिषीं प्रियाम् ॥०३-२५८-९॥
King Janaka of Videha had a daughter named Sītā, O lord, whom the creator himself made the beloved consort of Rāma. (03-258-9)
एतद्रामस्य ते जन्म सीतायाश्च प्रकीर्तितम्। रावणस्यापि ते जन्म व्याख्यास्यामि जनेश्वर ॥०३-२५८-१०॥
This is the account of Rāma's birth and that of Sītā which has been proclaimed to you. I shall also explain to you the birth of Rāvaṇa, O lord of people. (03-258-10)
पितामहो रावणस्य साक्षाद्देवः प्रजापतिः। स्वयम्भूः सर्वलोकानां प्रभुः स्रष्टा महातपाः ॥०३-२५८-११॥
Rāvaṇa's grandfather is directly the divine Prajāpati, the self-born lord, creator of all worlds, and one of great austerity. (03-258-11)
पुलस्त्यो नाम तस्यासीन्मानसो दयितः सुतः। तस्य वैश्रवणो नाम गवि पुत्रोऽभवत्प्रभुः ॥०३-२५८-१२॥
Pulastya, so named, was his mind-born beloved son. His son, born of Gavi, was named Vaiśravaṇa, who became a lord. (03-258-12)
पितरं स समुत्सृज्य पितामहमुपस्थितः। तस्य कोपात्पिता राजन्ससर्जात्मानमात्मना ॥०३-२५८-१३॥
He, having abandoned his father, approached the grandfather. From anger at him, O king, the father created himself by himself. (03-258-13)
स जज्ञे विश्रवा नाम तस्यात्मार्धेन वै द्विजः। प्रतीकाराय सक्रोधस्ततो वैश्रवणस्य वै ॥०३-२५८-१४॥
He, the twice-born named Viśravā, was born from half of himself indeed; then, with anger, for retaliation against Vaiśravaṇa. (03-258-14)
पितामहस्तु प्रीतात्मा ददौ वैश्रवणस्य ह। अमरत्वं धनेशत्वं लोकपालत्वमेव च ॥०३-२५८-१५॥
But the grandfather (Brahmā), pleased at heart, gave immortality, lordship over wealth, and guardianship of the world to Vaiśravaṇa. (03-258-15)
ईशानेन तथा सख्यं पुत्रं च नलकूबरम्। राजधानीनिवेशं च लङ्कां रक्षोगणान्विताम् ॥०३-२५८-१६॥
Īśāna gave him friendship, and a son, Nalakūbara; he also obtained the establishment of the capital city, Laṅkā, teeming with groups of rākṣasas. (03-258-16)
