Ramopakhyana (रामोपाख्यानम्)

Rama Upakhyana (Samskrit : रामोपाख्यानम्) is a short anaecdote (upakhyana) about the story of Shri Rama and Sitadevi (Ramayana) as described in Mahabharata Vanaparva in adhyayas 273 to 292.

Maharaja Yudhisthira while spending his time in the forests along with his brothers and wife Draupadi, once laments with Maharshi Markandeya about his distressing state. During that time Draupadi was abducted by Jayadratha and subsequent to releasing her from his captivity, Yudhisthira is deeply afflicted by such calamities that have befallen on him and his family. Yudhisthira exclaims that no one cannot escape from events due to time or his own deeds else how can Draupadi, born from the yajna, the respected daughter-in-law of Maharaja Pandu face such a humiliation of being abducted by Jayadratha. She has always followed dharma, and behaved respectfully towards elders, brahmanas and rshis.