Markandeya Introduces Rama's Story to Yudhishthira
Markandeya tells Yudhishthira that Rama faced incomparable misery — his wife Janaki was abducted by the rakshasa Ravana, who killed the vulture Jatayu with his maya. Yudhishthira asks for the full account: Rama's lineage, Ravana's birth, and the enmity between them. Markandeya agrees to narrate it.
Markandeya said: Rama confronted incomparable misery. His wife, Janaki, was forcibly abducted by a rakshasa. Having swiftly killed the vulture Jatayu by resorting to maya (divine illusion), Ravana, Indra of the rakshasas, abducted her from the hermitage, travelling through the sky. Resorting to the strength of Sugriva, Rama bound a bridge over the ocean, burnt Lanka with his sharp arrows, and obtained her back.
Yudhishthira asked: In what lineage was Rama born? What was his valour? How gallant was he? Whose son was Ravana and what was his enmity with him? O illustrious one! Please tell me all this in detail. I wish to hear Rama's account — the one whose deeds were unsullied.
Markandeya said: In the lineage of Ikshvaku, there was a great king named Aja. His son was Dasharatha, pure and always devoted to learning. He had four sons who were learned in dharma and artha — Rama, Lakshmana, Shatrughna, and the immensely strong Bharata. Rama's mother was Koushalya and Bharata's was Kaikeyi. Lakshmana and Shatrughna, scorchers of enemies, were the sons of Sumitra. Janaka was the king of Videha and his daughter was Sita. Tvashtra himself created her, so that she might be Rama's beloved queen. I have thus recounted to you the births of Rama and Sita.
Now I will tell you about Ravana's birth. Ravana's great-grandfather was the god Prajapati himself, the self-creating great ascetic and the lord of all the worlds. He had a beloved son named Pulastya, born through his mental powers. Through a cow, that lord had a son named Vaishravana. But he abandoned his father and went to his grandfather. His father was angered at this. He created another self, based on his own self. In great wrath, the brahmana created Vishrava from half of himself, so that Vaishravana could be countered. But delighted, the grandfather conferred immortality on Vaishravana. He also made him lord of riches and a guardian of the worlds. He was given friendship with Ishana and a son named Nalakubara. His capital became Lanka, inhabited by masses of rakshasas. Aranyaka Parva, Chapter 555