| Sumitra | |
|---|---|
| Queen of Kosala | |
 Sumitra with Dasharatha during the distribution of Payasa | |
| Born | Kashi |
| Spouse | Dasharatha |
| Issue | Lakshmana Shatrughna |
| House | Ayodhya |
| Dynasty | Kashi (by birth) Raghuvamsha-Suryavamsha (by marriage) |
| Religion | Hinduism |
Sumitra (Sanskrit:सुमित्रा,IAST: Sumitrā) is a princess ofKashi and the queen ofKosala in the Hindu epicRamayana. Sumitra is the second queen consort ofDasharatha, the king of Kosala, who ruled fromAyodhya.[1] Regarded to be a wise and dedicated woman, she is the mother of the twinsLakshmana andShatrughna.[2][3]
The name Sumitra is ofSanskrit origin, and could be divided intoSu meaning good, andMitra, meaning friend. Thus, her name means 'a good friend' or 'one with a friendly nature'. She is known in other languages asTamil: சுமித்திரை (pronunciationⓘ),Burmese: Thumitra,Malay: Samutra,Khmer andThai:สมุทรเทวีSamutthra Thewi).[4]
While Valmiki is silent on her parentage, later texts variously described her as a princess ofKashi or ofMagadha, and belonging to theHaiheya clan.[5] She is called the daughter of Magadha, as perKalidasa’sRaghuvamsham.[6] Kalidasa wrote,
तमलभन्त पति पतिदेवताः शिखारिणामिव सागरमापगाः॥मगधकोसलकेकयशासिनां दुहितरोऽहितरोपितमार्गणम् ॥ १७॥
"The daughters of the kings of Magadha, Kosala, and Kaikeya delight in accepting as husband the king Dashratha, the same way as rivers descending from mountains embrace the ocean."
Sumitra was married to kingDasharatha as his second queen consort. In theBalakanda chapter of theRamayana, Sumitra first appears.[7]
Sumitra performs theasvamedha yagna alongside Dasharatha and his two other wives in hopes of blessings for children.[8] At the sacrifice conducted byRishyasringa to obtain sons for the childless Dasharatha, a divine being emerged from the flames with a golden vessel filled with divinepayasam (a milk delicacy) prepared by the gods. Dasharatha offers half of this divine food toKausalya, a quarter to Sumitra (i.e., literally 'half of that which remained'), an eighth toKaikeyi (i.e., again, 'half of that which remained'), and then, upon reflection, gives the final eighth to Sumitra again.[9]
Consequently, Kausalya gives birth to the princeRama and Kaikeyi toBharata. Having received two portions, Sumitra became the mother of twins,Lakshmana andSatrughna.[4]
Her elder son Lakshmana marriedUrmila, daughter ofJanaka, King ofMithila and her younger son Shatrughan, marriedShrutakirti, daughter of Janaka's brotherKushadhvaja.[8]
Sumitra is known to encourage her son Lakshmana to go into exile with Rama.[10] Sumitra is described to have found a lot of happiness around her son Lakshmana, with the latter being described as the 'enhancer of her joy' and is also known as Saumitra (Sanskrit:सौमित्र,lit. 'son of Sumitra').[11]
Despite this, she sends her son in his brother's service.[12] Before his departure, Sumitra tells Lakshmana, "Ram is your elder brother, and the future king. Do not neglect your duty. Serve and guard him, and show your devotion, at all times."[13]
Neither the principal queen nor the favoured wife, Sumitra was single-minded in her devotion to her husband and to the senior queen, Kausalya.[14] Considered as the wisest of Dasharatha's three wives, she supported Lakshmana's decision to accompany Rama, to serve him during his exile, and comforted Kausalya after the departure of her son.[15]
In theRamayana, Sumitra is faultless and charming and skilled in her employment of words.[6] Sumitra's husband, Dasharatha deems her worthy and is fearful of losing the respect in her eyes. He says,
विप्रकारं च रामस्य संप्रयाणं वनस्य च।। सुमित्रा प्रेक्ष्यवै भीता कथं मे विश्वसिष्यति।।
"Being apprehensive of seeing Rama being treated with contempt and his exile to the forest, how will Sumitra put faith in me?"[6]
After the exile of Rama,Sita, and Lakshmana, the benevolent Sumitra consoles QueenKausalya with her persuasive words:[16]
“What should be difficult for him, who, armed with bow and sword, is preceded on his way by Lakshmana? O Lady, abandon grief and infatuation, assuredly you will behold Shri Rama returning from his exile. O You who art irreproachable, O Kalyani, O Auspicious One, you will behold your son like the rising moon, placing his head at your feet. You will shed tears of joy, seeing your son installed on the throne and in possession of the king’s treasury. O Lady, neither grieve nor let your mind be troubled, I see nought that is inauspicious in respect of Rama. Soon you shalt behold your son with Sita and Lakshmana. O Sinless Queen, it becomes you to encourage others, therefore, why dost you now cause your heart distress? O Devi, do not grieve, there is none in the world more virtuous than Rama. Seeing Rama returning from the forest with his friends, making obeisance to you, then will you shed tears of joy, like the clouds in the rainy season. In brief, I tell you, your son Shri Rama, returning to the capital, will press your feet to him with his tender hands. Seeing your son bowing to your feet you will cover him with tears as the clouds cover the mountains with rain.”
During Rama's consecration, Sumitra offers her blessings to the prince:[17]
Hearing these words of (i.e. uttered by) him, O sinless one, she, with her face hung down, slowly said: “Rāma, go to your (own) house.” And Rāma, the best among men, having heard (these) words of his mother, saluted her, and the treasure of compassion went to the house of Sumitrā. The large-hearted Sumitrā, seeing Rāma with her son (Lakṣmaṇa), said, with (i.e. giving him) blessings: Live long, live long.
— Padma Purana, Patala Kanda, Chapter 4
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