Shatrughna: The Quiet Brother

Who he is

Shatrughna, "destroyer of enemies", was the youngest of the four brothers, son of Sumitra and twin of Lakshmana. His wife was Shrutakirti. As Lakshmana attached himself to Ram, Shatrughna attached himself to Bharata.

His life

The Ramayana says little about him, and that is the point. When Bharata withdrew to Nandigram to live as an ascetic, someone still had to see that taxes were collected fairly, the army was paid, the three widowed queens were cared for and the city was kept safe. That someone was Shatrughna. For fourteen years he did the daily work of government in the name of a regent who ruled in the name of a pair of sandals. He is the servant of the servant of Ram.

One flash of temper is recorded: on learning what Manthara had done, he seized her and would have punished her, until Bharata stopped him, saying Ram would never forgive harm to a woman.

His own great deed comes in the Uttara Kanda. Sages living along the Yamuna asked Ram for protection from the demon Lavanasura. Shatrughna asked to be given the task, saying his brothers had already borne enough. He slew Lavana and founded the city of Madhura, known today as Mathura, which he ruled for twelve years before returning to Ayodhya.

What he stands for

Every family and every organisation has a Shatrughna: the person whose name is rarely mentioned and without whom nothing would work. The Ramayana's heroes could go to the forest, to Lanka and to Nandigram because someone reliable stayed at the desk. His reward in the story is modest and fitting: when a new task arose, he was the one trusted with it.

If you are the one who keeps things running while others are praised, this is your character. Read Brotherhood and family. Next: Vibhishana.