Yudhishtira's question
This life in the forest is full of misery. We sustain ourselves through hunting. This means that those who live in the forest cause violence to those of the deer family. This exile has been brought about by relatives who resorted to falsehood. Is there any other man who is more unfortunate than I? Have you seen, or heard of, any such one earlier?”’
- 554 (257), Draupadi Harana parva, Mahabharata.
Markandeya told Yudhishtira that Rama of Ikshwaku dynasty faced a great misery
Markandeya said, “O bull among the Bharata lineage! Rama confronted incomparable misery. His wife, Janaki, was forcibly abducted by a rakshasa. Having swiftly killed the vulture Jatayu by resorting to maya, Ravana, Indra of the rakshasas, abducted her from the hermitage, travelling through the sky. Resorting to the strength of Sugriva, Rama bound a bridge over the ocean, burnt Lanka with his sharp arrows, and obtained her back.”
- 555 (258), Draupadi Harana parva, Mahabharata.
Following this, Markandeya narrated the entire life story of Sri Rama to Yudhishtira, how he was exiled, how his wife was abducted by Ravana and how Rama went to Lanka and destroyed the Rakshasas.
After this, Markandeya comforted Yudhishtira by reminding him that Rama overcame his enemies with the help of Vanaras. Yudhishtira has his powerful brothers to always aid him.
Who cannot be overcome in battle by someone who has Dhananjaya as his brother? Bhima is terrible in his valour and is foremost among strong ones. Madri’s two twin sons are young and great archers. O scorcher of enemies! With such aides, why do you grieve? With such aides, you can vanquish the soldiers of the wielder of the vajra, together with the Maruts. O bull among the Bharata lineage! With such great archers as aides, who are the equals of the gods, you will vanquish all your enemies in battle. Look at Droupadi Krishna. She was abducted forcibly by the evil-souled Saindhava, who was intoxicated with his valour. But these great-souled ones accomplished the difficult task of obtaining her back, after vanquishing and subjugating King Jayadratha. Rama got Vaidehi back without any such allies. Through his terrible valour, he killed the rakshasa Dashagriva in battle. O king! Use your own intelligence to think about this. Monkeys and black-faced bears were his allies, creatures from a different species. O best of the Kurus! O bull among the Bharata lineage! Therefore, do not sorrow. O scorcher of enemies! Great-souled ones like you do not sorrow.”
- 573 ( 276), Draupadi Harana parva, Mahabharata.
Thus through the story of Rama, Markandeya freed Yudhishtira from his sorrows.