मार्कण्डेय उवाच प्राप्तमप्रतिमं दुःखं रामेण भरतर्षभ। रक्षसा जानकी तस्य हृता भार्या बलीयसा॥
Markandeya said : O foremost of the Bharatas, an incomparable calamity was met with by Rama. His wife Janaki was carried away by force by the Rakshasas.
आश्रमाद् राक्षसेन्द्रेण रावणेन दुरात्मना। मायामास्थाय तरसा हत्वा गृधं जटायुषम्॥
Resorting to Maya and having slain the vulture Jatayu, the vicious-souled Ravana, the king of Rakshasas (carried her away) from the hermitage.
प्रत्याजहार तां रामः सुग्रीवबलमाश्रितः। बद्ध्वा सेतुं समुद्रस्य दग्ध्वा लङ्कां शितैः शरैः॥
Constructing a bridge over the ocean and burn in down Lanka with sharp shafts, by the help of Sugriva, Rama brought her back.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच कस्मिन् रामः कुले जातः किंवीर्यः किम्पराक्रमः। रावणः कस्य पुत्रो वा किं वैरं तस्य तेन ह॥
Yudhishthira said: In what family was be born? How was his mighty and prowess? Whose son was Rama? What enmity had he with him?
सर्वं सम्यगाख्यातुमर्हसि। श्रोतुमिच्छामि चरितं रामस्याक्लिष्टकर्मणः॥
Oh Sir, relate ail this to me. I wish to hear the story of Rama of unwearied actions.
मार्कण्डेय उवाच अजो नामाभवद् राजा महानिक्ष्वाकुवंशजः। तस्य पुत्रो दशरथः शश्वतस्वाध्यायवाञ्छुचिः॥
Markandeya said : There was a great king in the family of Ikshvakus by name Aja. His son was Dasharatha, who was pure and ever devoted to the study of the Vedas.
एतन्मे भगवन् अभवंस्तस्य चत्वारः पुत्रा धर्मार्थकोविदाः। रामलक्ष्मणशत्रुघ्ना भरतश्च महाबलः॥
He had four sons well-versed in Dharma and Artha namely Rama, Lakshmana, Shatrughna and the mighty Bharata.
रामस्य माता कौसल्य कैकेयी भरतस्य तु। सुतौ लक्ष्मणशत्रुघ्नौ सुमित्रायाः परंतपौ॥
Rama's mother was Kausalaya, Bharata's mother was Kaikeyi and Sumitra was the mother of Lakshmana and Shatrughana, the repressors of enemies.
विदेहराजो जनकः सीता तस्यात्मजा विभो। यां चकार स्वयं त्वष्टा रामस्य महिषीं प्रियाम्॥
O lord, Janaka was the king of Videha and his daughter was Sita. Tvashtri himself created her wishing to make her the beloved queen of Rama.
एतद् रामस्य ते जन्म सीतायाश्च प्रकीर्तितम्। रावणस्यापि ते जन्म व्याख्यास्यामि जनेश्वर।॥
I have thus recounted to you the birth of Rama and Sita; O lord of men, I shall now describe the birth of Ravana.
पितामहो रावणस्य साक्षाद् देवः प्रजापतिः। स्वयम्भूः सर्वलोकानां प्रभुः स्रष्टा महातपाः॥
Prajapati himself, the self-create, the creator, the Lord of creatures, of great exertions, is the grand-father of Ravana.
पुलस्त्यो नाम तस्यासीन्मानसो दयितः सुतः। तस्य वैश्रवणो नाम गवि पुत्रोऽभवत् प्रभुः॥
Prajapati had a favourite son born of his mind by name Pulastya; and he had a powerful son begotten of cow by name Vaishravana.
पितरं स समुत्सृज्य पितामहमुपस्थितः। तस्य कोपात् पिता राजन् ससर्जात्मानमात्मा॥
Leaving his father he went to his grandfather. Accordingly worked up with anger, O king, he created a second self of himself.
स जज्ञे विश्रवा नाम तस्यात्मार्धेन वै द्विजः। प्रतीकाराय सक्रोधस्ततो वैश्रवणस्य वै॥
Thereupon for wrecking vengeance on Vaishravana in great anger that regenerate one, with half of his own self, created Vaishravana.
पितामहस्तु प्रीतात्मा ददौ वैश्रवणस्य ह। अमरत्वं धनेशत्वं लोकपालत्वमेव च॥
(However) pleased, the grand-father conferred on Vaishravana immortality, the sovereignty of all wealth and guardianship of one of the quarters.
ईशानेन तथा सख्यं पुत्रं च नलकूबरम्। राजधानीनिवेशं च लङ्कां रक्षोगणान्विताम्॥
The friendship with Ishana and a son named Nalakubera. He created Lanka as his capital protected by Rakshasas.
विमानं पुष्पकं नाम कामगं च ददौ प्रभुः। यक्षाणामाधिपत्यं च राजराजत्वमेव च॥
The Lord gave him a chariot coursing at will by name Pushpaka, the sovereignty over he Yakshas and the supremacy over kings.