In plain words
But for the son to be born to me there is no chance at all of becoming king. So why should I eat this pāyasam?” Brooding so, she took the oil bath. In those days there were no fans or hair dryers as there are now, so she went up to the top of the mansion, set the bowl of pāyasam down in one place and began to dry her hair. Just then a big eagle came from somewhere and snatched the bowl of pāyasam away.
Sumitrā did not know which way to turn. She felt no sorrow that the pāyasam was gone, but fearing that her husband might be pained, might be angry with her, if he learnt what had happened, she came down, went to Kausalyā and Kaika and told them all just as it had happened. Since the three lived with one another like sisters, in boundless love, they sent for another bowl, so that no trouble should come to the king and Sumitrā should not fall into despair; they put part of Kausalyā's pāyasam and part of Kaika's pāyasam into that bowl and handed it to Sumitrā. That is why Sumitrā had two sons. From the pāyasam Kausalyā gave, Lakṣmaṇa was born, and from the pāyasam Kaika gave, Śatrughna.
But from the day they were born, Lakṣmaṇa and Śatrughna were crying whenever anyone looked at them. Wondering what pain lay within, they had them given many treatments. But it was of no use. Recognising that this pain was not one that treatment would take away, one day Sumitrā laid the matter before Vasiṣṭha.
Vasiṣṭha thought for a little while: “Mother! Their pain is one thing, and the treatment you are having given is another. Their longing is not something men can recognise. They have no bodily pain of any kind. Do as I tell you. From that very moment they will stop crying and play happily. Right now, take Lakṣmaṇa and lay him down beside Rāma, and Śatrughna beside Bharata,” he said. Sumitrā did exactly that. From that very moment the crying of Lakṣmaṇa and Śatrughna vanished; in joy they began to kick their legs and wave their arms. Seeing their delight, Sumitrā could not believe her own eyes. She asked Vasiṣṭha what the reason was for this happening.