मार्कण्डेय उवाच एवमेतन्महाबाहो रामेणामिततेजसा। प्राप्तं व्यसनमत्युचं वनवासकृतं पुरा॥
Markandeya said: O mighty-armed one, thus, in days of old Rama of unrivalled energy had experienced such a terrible disaster owing to his being exiled in the forests.
मा शुचः पुरुषव्याघ्र क्षत्रियोऽसि परंतप। बाहुवीर्याश्रिते मार्गे वर्तसे दीप्तनिर्णये॥
O most valiant of men, do not (therefore) lament (over your misfortune); for, O tormentor of foes, you are a Kshatriya. You are journeying along the path which calls forth the prowess of arms and which is calculated to lead to sure success.
न हि ते वृजिनं किंचिद् वर्तते परमण्वपि। अस्मिन् मार्गे निषीदेयुः सेन्द्रा अपि सुरासुराः॥
(By following this path) you have not incurred even an atom of sin. The gods together with Indra and the Asuras have (sometimes) to adopt this path.
संहत्य निहतो वृत्रो मरुद्भिर्वलापाणिना। नमुचिश्चैव दुर्धर्षो दीर्घजिह्वा च राक्षसी॥
(It was by adopting this path) that the wielder of the thunderbolt (Indra) together with the Marutas slew Vritra, the invincible Namuchi and the Rakshasa female Dirghajivha.
सहायवति सर्वार्थाः संतिष्ठन्तीह सर्वशः। किं नु तस्याजितं संख्ये यस्य भ्राता धनंजयः॥
In this world, he, that is backed up, has all his desires gratified. What is there that cannot be overcome by him in battle whose brother is Dhananjaya?
अयं च बलिनां श्रेष्ठो भीमो भीमपराक्रमः। युवानौ च महेष्वासौ वीरौ माद्रवतीसुतौ॥
This Bhima of terrible prowess is the strongest of the strong; and the two youthful and heroic sons of Madravati are mighty bowmen.
एभिः सहायैः कस्मात् त्वं विषीदसि परंतप। य इमे वलिाणः सेनां जयेयुः समरुद्गणाम्॥
Why, then, O tormentor of foes, do you grieve, since you have such supporters, as are capable of vanquishing the forces of the wielder of the thunderbolt together with the Marutas?
त्वमप्येभिर्महेष्वासैः सहायैर्देवरूपिभिः। विजेष्यसे रणे सर्वानमित्रान् भरतर्षभ॥
O best of the Bharatas, with these mighty bowmen of celestials appearance you will surely conquer in battle all your enemies.
इतश्च त्वमिमां पश्य सैन्धवेन बलिना वीर्यमत्तेन हृतामेभिर्महात्मभिः॥ आनीतां द्रौपदी कृष्णां कृत्वा कर्म सुदुष्करम्। जयद्रथं च राजानं विजितं वशमागतम्॥
Just see, these high-minded (brothers of yours) after achieving terrible feats (of arms) have rescued this daughter of Drupada carried off by the evil-minded Saindhava puffed up with pride and power. (And they) have also vanquished and reduced to subjection king Jayadratha.
असहायेन रामेण वैदेही पुनराहता। हत्वा संख्ये दशग्रीवं राक्षसं भीमविक्रमम्॥
Again, the princess of Videha was rescued by Rama with almost no allies after having slain in battle the terribly-powerful ten-necked.
दुरात्मना। यस्य शाखामृगा मित्राण्यक्षाः कालमुखास्तथा। जात्यन्तरगता राजन्नेतद् बुद्ध्यानुचिन्तय॥
Consider this, O king, by (the exercise of your) intelligence, that his (Rama's) only allies were the bears and the monkeys born in other orders of creation.
तस्मात् स त्वं कुरुश्रेष्ठ मा शुचो भरतर्षभ। त्वद्विधा हि महात्मानो न शोचन्ति परंतप॥
Therefore, O best of the Kurus, O most exalted of the Bharata, do not grieve over all this. O tormentor of foes, high-minded men like you never give way to sorrow.
वैशम्पायन उवाच एवमाश्वासितो राजा मार्कण्डेयेन धीमता। त्यक्त्वा दुःखमदीनात्मा पुनरप्येनमब्रवीत्॥
Vaishampayana said : Thus consoled by the intelligent Markandeya, the large-hearted king giving up his sorrow again spoke to Markandeya.