Sumitra is the third queen of King Dasharatha of Ayodhya and the mother of the twins Lakshmana and Shatrughna. Calm and wise, she is the queen who comforts others in the darkest hours of the Ramayana.
Who was Sumitra?
Sumitra receives two portions of the divine payasam that rises from Dasharatha's sacrifice, and so becomes the mother of twins: Lakshmana, who will never leave Rama's side, and Shatrughna, who stays close to Bharata. Valmiki shows her as a queen without jealousy, at ease beside both Kausalya and Kaikeyi.
When Rama is sent into exile, Sumitra tells Lakshmana to treat Rama as his father, Sita as his mother and the forest as Ayodhya. After Rama leaves, it is Sumitra who sits with the grieving Kausalya and reminds her of Rama's strength and goodness.
Sumitra is remembered as the model of a selfless mother, who gave one son to serve Rama and another to serve Bharata, and asked nothing for herself.
In the Valmiki Ramayana
Sumitra appears in 10 sargas across 3 Kandas.
