Sumitrá

Also known as: Queen Sumitrá · Family: Ayodhyá · Role: queen · First appears: Book I, Canto 15 · The Nectar

In Book I, Canto 15, Daśaratha gave Sumitrá part of the heavenly nectar he distributed among his queens; soon, Sumitrá, Kauśalyá, and Kaikeyí conceived. In Canto 17, Sumitrá joined the other queens in bidding farewell to Śántá.

In Canto 19, Sumitrá bore Lakshmaṇ and Śatrughna. In Book II, Canto 44, she praised Kauśalyá’s son, saying, “all noble virtues grace Thy son”; in Canto 57, she helped Kauśalyá raise her dismayed lord.

Relationship record

Life events

• Daśaratha distributed the heavenly nectar among Kauśalyá, Sumitrá, and Kaikeyí.(Book I, Canto 15 · The Nectar)
  • With: Daśaratha Kauśalyá Kaikeyí
  • “He spoke, and gave the lady half. Part of the nectar that remained Sumitrá from his hand obtained. He gave, to make her fruitful too, Kaikeyí half the residue. A portion yet remaining there, He paused awhile to think. Then gave Sumitrá, with her share.”
• Kauśalyá, Sumitrá, and Kaikeyí conceived.(Book I, Canto 15 · The Nectar)
  • With: Kauśalyá Kaikeyí
  • “And soon, with rapture and with pride, Each royal dame conceived.”
• Daśaratha’s queens said goodbye to Śántá before she left with Rishyaśring.(Book I, Canto 17 · Rishyasring’s Return)
  • With: Daśaratha Kauśalyá Kaikeyí Śántá
  • “To Śántá’s arms the ladies leapt, And hung about her neck and wept, And cried, “O, happy be the life Of this great Bráhman and his wife.”
• Sumitrá gave birth to Lakshmaṇ and Śatrughna.(Book I, Canto 19 · The Birth Of The Princes)
  • With: Lakshmaṇ Śatrughna
  • “Sumitrá too a noble pair, Called Lakshmaṇ and Śatrughna, bare,”

Book I, Canto 15 · The Nectar

• married with Daśaratha “Part of the nectar that remained Sumitrá from his hand obtained.”

Book I, Canto 17 · Rishyasring’s Return

• married with Daśaratha “And with eyes dripping still to each Of his good queens he spake this speech: “Kauśalyá and Sumitrá dear, And thou, my sweet Kaikeyí, hear.”

Book I, Canto 19 · The Birth Of The Princes

• child: Lakshmaṇ “Sumitrá too a noble pair, Called Lakshmaṇ and Śatrughna, bare,”
• child: Śatrughna “Sumitrá too a noble pair, Called Lakshmaṇ and Śatrughna, bare,”
• married with Daśaratha “The high-souled monarch’s consorts bore At different times those glorious four,”

Book II, Canto 4 · Ráma Summoned

• child: Lakshmaṇ “Be thine, Sumitrá’s son, to know The joys from regal power that flow.”

Book II, Canto 12 · Dasaratha’s Lament

• child: Lakshmaṇ “Ráma and me and Lakshmaṇ slay,”
• married with Daśaratha “And how will Queen Sumitrá trust The husband whom she finds unjust,”

Book II, Canto 19 · Ráma’s Promise

• child: Lakshmaṇ “Behind him came Sumitrá’s child With weeping eyes so sad and wild.”