03.258
rāmopākhyānam
The story of Rāma.
mārkaṇḍeya uvāca॥
Markandeya said.
prāptam-apratimaṃ duḥkhaṃ rāmeṇa bharatarṣabha। rakṣasā jānakī tasya hṛtā bhāryā balīyasā ॥03-258-1॥
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)
āśramādrākṣasendreṇa rāvaṇena vihāyasā। māyāmāsthāya tarasā hatvā gṛdhraṃ jaṭāyuṣam॥03-258-2॥
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)
pratyājahāra tāṃ rāmaḥ sugrīvabalam āśritaḥ। baddhvā setuṃ samudrasya dagdhvā laṅkāṃ śitaiḥ śaraiḥ ॥03-258-3॥
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)
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
kasmin rāmaḥ kule jātaḥ kiṁvīryaḥ kimparākramaḥ। rāvaṇaḥ kasya vā putraḥ kiṁ vairaṁ tasya tena ha ॥03-258-4॥
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)
etan me bhagavan sarvaṃ samyag ākhyātum arhasi। śrotum icchāmi caritaṃ rāmasya akliṣṭa-karmaṇaḥ॥03-258-5॥
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)
mārkaṇḍeya uvāca॥
Markaṇḍeya said.
ajo nāmābhavad rājā mahā-nikṣvāku-vaṁśajaḥ. tasya putro daśarathaḥ śaśvat svādhyāya-vāñ śuciḥ ॥03-258-6॥
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)
abhavaṃs tasya catvāraḥ putrā dharmārthakovidāḥ। rāmalakṣmaṇaśatrughnā bharataś ca mahābalaḥ॥03-258-7॥
To him were born four sons, skilled in dharma and artha: Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa, Śatrughna, and Bharata, all of great strength. (03-258-7)
rāmasya mātā kausalyā kaikeyī bharatasya tu। sutau lakṣmaṇaśatrughnau sumitrāyāḥ parantapau ॥03-258-8॥
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)
videharājo janakaḥ sītā tasyātmajā vibho। yāṃ cakāra svayaṃ tvaṣṭā rāmasya mahiṣīṃ priyām ॥03-258-9॥
King Janaka of Videha had a daughter named Sītā, O lord, whom the creator himself made the beloved consort of Rāma. (03-258-9)
etadrāmasya te janma sītāyāśca prakīrtitam। rāvaṇasyāpi te janma vyākhyāsyāmi janeśvara ॥03-258-10॥
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)
pitāmaho rāvaṇasya sākṣāddevaḥ prajāpatiḥ। svayambhūḥ sarvalokānāṃ prabhuḥ sraṣṭā mahātapāḥ॥03-258-11॥
Rāvaṇa's grandfather is directly the divine Prajāpati, the self-born lord, creator of all worlds, and one of great austerity. (03-258-11)
pulastyo nāma tasyāsīnmānaso dayitaḥ sutaḥ। tasya vaiśravaṇo nāma gavi putro'bhavatprabhuḥ॥03-258-12॥
Pulastya, so named, was his mind-born beloved son. His son, born of Gavi, was named Vaiśravaṇa, who became a lord. (03-258-12)
pitaraṃ sa samutsṛjya pitāmaham upasthitaḥ। tasya kopāt pitā rājan sasarjātmānam ātmanā ॥03-258-13॥
He, having abandoned his father, approached the grandfather. From anger at him, O king, the father created himself by himself. (03-258-13)
sa jajñe viśravā nāma tasyātmārdhena vai dvijaḥ. pratīkārāya sakrodhastato vaiśravaṇasya vai ॥03-258-14॥
He, the twice-born named Viśravā, was born from half of himself indeed; then, with anger, for retaliation against Vaiśravaṇa. (03-258-14)
pitāmahastu prītātmā dadau vaiśravaṇasya ha। amaratvaṃ dhaneśatvaṃ lokapālatvameva ca ॥03-258-15॥
But the grandfather (Brahmā), pleased at heart, gave immortality, lordship over wealth, and guardianship of the world to Vaiśravaṇa. (03-258-15)
īśānena tathā sakhyaṃ putraṃ ca nalakūbaram। rājadhānī-niveśaṃ ca laṅkāṃ rakṣogaṇānvitām ॥03-258-16॥
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)
