In plain words
However many wicked sons one may have, what is the use? One good son is enough. The Rāmāyaṇa is a fine example of this.
This is the month of Caitra; it was in this very month that Rāma came as the Avatāra. Śrī Rāmacandra was born on the ninth day of the bright half of Caitra. Of the three wives of King Daśaratha, the second, Sumitrā, is not spoken of much in the Rāmāyaṇa. Through Rāma, Kausalyā won a good name. “Kausalyā suprajā rāma...”: in the Suprabhātam it is Kausalyā’s name that comes first of all. Kaikeyī wished that her own son Bharata should be king. But Sumitrā had no wants of any kind. She was virtuous, rich in good conduct, a woman of few words and kind words; her conduct was true to her name. Her sons Lakṣmaṇa and Śatrughna had no prospect of gaining the kingdom. Nor did Sumitrā have any such wish. By setting both her sons on the path of service, she gave the whole world a great ideal. ‘When Śrī Rāmacandra becomes king, Lakṣmaṇa must be his chief servant’: that was her wish. ‘The servant stays beside his master. For my son, service of Rāma comes first. Lakṣmaṇa must find his fulfilment in serving Rāma’: that was her wish. In the same way, she wished that Śatrughna should serve Bharata. Seeing the holiness in service, she dedicated her sons to service alone. When you enquire well into the story of Rāma, you will understand how broad, how noble, how exemplary Sumitrā’s feelings were.
When Rāma set out for the forest, Kausalyā grieved deeply. But Sumitrā did not shed a tear. Instead, comforting Kausalyā: “Sister! Lakṣmaṇa is going to serve Rāma; he will look after Rāma like the eyelid guarding the eye. No hardship or danger of any kind will befall Rāma,” she said, giving her courage. “Lakṣmaṇa was born to serve Rāma. He is an instrument in Rāma’s hand. So Rāma is taking His instrument along with Him. It is not that I am sending him, nor that Lakṣmaṇa is going.