Shatrughna

Birth and family

After King Dasharatha’s great sacrifice, the sacred payasa was shared among his three queens. Kaushalya received half, and Queen Sumitra received a share twice, so she gave birth to twins: Lakshmana and Shatrughna. Valmiki says the twins were born under the star Ashlesha, and like all four princes they carried a portion of Lord Vishnu’s glory.

The name Shatrughna means “destroyer of enemies.” From childhood he was devoted to Bharata, just as Lakshmana was devoted to Rama. The two pairs of brothers were inseparable. All four princes studied the Vedas and archery, served their father and teachers with respect, and grew up loved by the people of Ayodhya.

At Mithila, when Rama married Sita, Shatrughna married Shrutakirti, the younger daughter of Kushadhvaja, King Janaka’s younger brother. Her elder sister Mandavi married Bharata. Soon afterwards Shatrughna went with Bharata to Kekaya, the kingdom of Bharata’s grandfather, and so he too was far away when Rama was sent to the forest.

Grief and anger in Ayodhya

When the two brothers came home, they found their father dead and Rama, Sita and Lakshmana gone to the forest. Shatrughna was full of sorrow and anger. He wondered aloud why Lakshmana, so strong and brave, had not stopped the king from making such an unjust decision before Rama was sent away.

Just then Manthara, the maid whose words had turned Kaikeyi’s mind, came by, dressed in fine clothes and jewels. The doorkeepers told Shatrughna that she was the cause of all the trouble. In his anger he seized her and dragged her along, and the other servants ran away in fear.

Bharata stopped him. He said a woman must never be killed, and that if Rama heard of it he would never speak to them again. Shatrughna let her go at once. This shows his nature: hot-tempered when he saw injustice, but always ready to listen to his elder brother.

With Bharata at Chitrakuta and Nandigram

Shatrughna went with Bharata to the forest to beg Rama to return. At Chitrakuta he too fell weeping at Rama’s feet. When Rama gave Bharata his sandals, he also gave Shatrughna a special charge: “Protect Mother Kaikeyi and do not be angry with her. I ask this of you in my own name and in Sita’s.”

For fourteen years Shatrughna stood by Bharata while Bharata ruled from Nandigram in Rama’s name. He did not go to the war in Lanka; his duty was to help keep the kingdom safe and the queen mothers cared for. When news came that Rama was returning, Bharata asked Shatrughna to prepare the city, and the roads were cleaned, sprinkled and decorated to welcome Rama home.

When Rama arrived, Shatrughna went out to Nandigram with Bharata, the queen mothers and the citizens. He bowed at the feet of Rama and Lakshmana and greeted Sita with deep respect, after fourteen long years apart. As Rama rode into Ayodhya for his coronation, it was Shatrughna who held the white royal umbrella over his head.

The task of Lavana

Years after Rama’s coronation, a group of sages led by Chyavana came from the banks of the Yamuna. They complained about Lavana, a cruel rakshasa who ruled from the city of Madhupura and troubled the ascetics. He was the son of Madhu, who had once received a mighty trident from Lord Shiva. As long as Lavana held that trident in his hand, no one could defeat him.

Rama asked which brother would go. Bharata offered, but Shatrughna stepped forward and asked for the task himself, saying that Bharata had already served greatly while Rama was away. Rama agreed, and before Shatrughna left he crowned him king of the land of Madhu. He also gave him a divine arrow, the very arrow with which Lord Vishnu had long ago destroyed the demons Madhu and Kaitabha.

Rama gave him wise advice as well. Lavana went out hunting each day without his trident, so Shatrughna should wait at the gate of the city and challenge him before he could go back inside to fetch it. With this plan in his heart and his army behind him, Shatrughna set out towards the Yamuna.

Valmiki’s ashram and victory at Madhupura

On his way, Shatrughna stopped for a night at the ashram of the sage Valmiki. By chance, on that very night Sita, who was living there after leaving Ayodhya, gave birth to twin sons. At midnight the young disciples brought the happy news to Valmiki, and when Shatrughna heard it, he was filled with joy.

Shatrughna reached the Yamuna and waited at the city gate exactly as Rama had advised. Lavana came back from hunting and found the young prince blocking his way. A fierce duel followed. At last Shatrughna fitted Vishnu’s arrow to his bow and released it, and Lavana fell, never reaching his trident, which then returned to Lord Shiva. The gods and sages rejoiced.

When the gods offered him a boon, Shatrughna asked that the beautiful city there be quickly settled. He built the city of Madhura on the bank of the Yamuna, and by the twelfth year it was full of happy people, green fields and busy markets. This is the city known today as Mathura.

Later life and character

In the twelfth year Shatrughna set out to see Rama. Once again he rested at Valmiki’s ashram, and there he heard the story of Rama sung with music. He and his soldiers were moved to tears and filled with wonder, but Shatrughna did not ask the sage about it. In Ayodhya he wished to stay near Rama, but after seven days Rama lovingly sent him back to care for his people.

When Rama decided to leave the world, Shatrughna crowned his two sons, Subahu at Madhura and Shatrughati at Vidisha, and hurried to join his brother. Together with Bharata he followed Rama into the Sarayu. Shatrughna’s life shows that quiet, steady service, done without asking for praise, is as great as any famous deed.