This lady is the daughter of Drupada; she hath issued from the sacrificial altar and hath not been begotten of the flesh; and she is highly blessed and is also the daughter-in-law of the illustrious Pandu.  I incline to think that Time, and human Destiny that dependeth on our acts, and the Inevitable, are irresistible in respect of creatures. (If it were not so), how could such a misfortune afflict this wife of ours so faithful and virtuous, like a false accusation of theft against an honest man?  The daughter of Drupada hath never committed any sinful act, nor hath she done anything that is not commendable:  on the contrary, she hath assiduously practised the highest virtues towards Brahmanas.  And yet the foolish king Jayadratha had carried her away by force.  In consequence of this act of violence on her, that sinful wretch hath his hair shaved off his head and sustained also, with all his allies, defeat in battle.  It is true we have rescued her after slaughtering the troops of Sindhu.  But the disgrace of this ravishment of our wife during our hours of carelessness, hath stained us, to be sure.  This life in the wilderness is full of miseries.  We subsist by chase; and though dwelling in the woods, we are obliged to slay the denizens thereof that live with us!  This exile also that we suffer is due to the act of deceitful kinsmen!  Is there any one who is more unfortunate than I am?  Hath thou ever seen or heard of such a one before?’”

SECTION CCLXXII

“Markandeya said, ’O bull of the Bharata race, even Rama suffered unparalleled misery, for the evil-minded Ravana, king of the Rakshasas, having recourse to deceit and overpowering the vulture Jatayu, forcibly carried away his wife Sita from his asylum in the woods.  Indeed, Rama, with the help of Sugriva, brought her back, constructing a bridge across the sea, and consuming Lanka with his keen-edged arrows.’

“Yudhishthira said, ’In what race was Rama born and what was the measure of his might and prowess?  Whose son also was Ravana and for what was it that he had any misunderstanding with Rama?  It behoveth thee, O illustrious one, to tell me all this in detail; for I long to hear the story of Rama of great achievements!’

“Markandeya said, ’Listen, O prince of Bharata’s race, to this old history exactly as it happened!  I will tell thee all about the distress suffered by Rama together with his wife.  There was a great king named Aja sprung from the race of Ikshwaku.  He had a son named Dasaratha who was devoted to the study of the Vedas and was ever pure.  And Dasaratha had four sons conversant with morality and profit known by the names, respectively, of Rama, Lakshmana, Satrughna, and the mighty Bharata.  And Rama had for his mother Kausalya, and Bharata had for his mother Kaikeyi, while those scourges of their enemies Lakshmana and Satrughna were the sons of Sumitra.  And Janaka was the king of Videha,