Agni Purāṇa

5 - Manifestation of Vishnu as Rama:

Agni said:

1. Ishall describe (unto you) the (story of) Ramayana, as it (was) once described by Nárada to Valmiki (and which) if read in that manner yields enjoyment and release (from mundane existence). 

Narada said:

2. Brahmä (was born) from the lotus in the navel of Vishnu. (Sage) Marichi (was) the son of Brahma. (Sage) Kasayapa (was) then (born) from Marichi. The Sun (god) (and) Vaivasvata Manu (were born successively in the line). 

3. Then from him (Vaivasvata Manu), Ikshvåku (was born). Kakutstha (was born) in his line. Raghu (was the son) of Kakutstha. Aja (was born) to him. Then Dasaratha (was born). 

4-7. Hari (Vishnu) manifested himself in the four (forms) for the sake of the annihilation of Råvaņa and others. Råma was born from Dasaratha to Kausalya, Bharata to Kaikeyi and Lakshmaņa and Satrughna to Sumitrå simultaneously from partaking of the sweet gruel obtained from the performance) of the sacrifice of the father. The king being requested by the sage) Viśvamitra for the annihilation of those who impede (the performance) of the sacrifices sent Rama and Lakshmaņa along with the sage. Råma who had gone (with the sage) (and) was taught in the use of the weapons (astral and Sastra)2(became) the killer of the demoness) Tatakå3.

1-2. The word astra denotes a weapon discharged along with the repetition. of the mystic syllables, whereas 'sastra' is any ordinary missile. 

3. Täțakå was a female fiend, daughter of Suketu.she was the wise of Sunda and mother of Mårica.she had been changed into a fiend by the sage Agastya whenshe had disturbed his austeritics. 

Although Rāma was at first reluctant to raise his bow against a woman,she was later killed by him, at the instance of Viśvamitra, whenshe disturbed the sacrificial performances of Viśvāmitra. See Ram. I.XXV-xxvi. 

8. (Rama) made (demon) Mårica4 stupefied by the missile (known as) Mänava and led him far away. The valiant killed also (the demon) Subāhu, the destroyer of sacrifices along with his army.

4. Mårica was a demon, son of Sunda and Tatakā. He was the uncle of Råvaņa. Ram. L.xxiv, 26-27 

9. Residing at the (place) Siddhāśrama5 along with (the sages) Viśvamitra and others, (Råma) went along with his brother to see the sacrifice (test for prowess) of Maithila (King Janaka). 

5. Siddhåsrama was the place where Vishnu manifested as the Dwarf to subdue the demon Bali, and also where the aspirants realized their ambitions. See Rom. I. xxix. 

10-12. At the instance of (the sage) Satananda6 and on acco- unt of the glory of Viśvåmitra, that sage beingshown due respects by the king at the sacrifice and Rama being informed sportively pulled the bow and broke it. (King) Janaka gave Sitā, the girl not born of the womb, and associated with a prize bid, to Råma. And when the parents had come, Råma also married that Jån aki (Sītā). In the same way Lakshmaņa (also married) Urmila. 

6. Satánanda was the son of sage Gautama and Ahalya and was the family priest of Janaka. See Ram. I.li.1. 

13-14. Then Satrughna and Bharata married Srutakirti and Måndavi, the two daughters of the brother of Janaka. Räma after conquering Jamadagni (Parasurama, son of Jamadagni) went to Ayodhyå with (sage) Vasishtha and others and Bharata with Satrughna went towards (the country of) Yudhajit (uncle of Bharata).