Passage 14

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In plain words

Your brother Lakṣmaṇa has fallen senseless in the battle. To bring him back to life, the physicians told me to bring the sañjīvanī herb. I do not know what the sañjīvanī looks like. So I have uprooted the whole mountain where the herb grows and am carrying it away,” he said. As soon as they heard the news that Lakṣmaṇa had fallen senseless, everyone: “Alas, has Lakṣmaṇa fallen senseless? Is Rāma suffering? Why must they have so many troubles?”: they shed tears; and as for the women, it need not even be said. But one woman alone shed no tears. That one was Sumitrā. “No suffering of any kind will come to Rāma. Nor will any danger befall Lakṣmaṇa either, who remembers the Name of Rāma without ceasing”: with this firm faith she stayed courageous.

Bharata took Hanumān to Ūrmilā. She did not come out of her room. In whatever room she was when Lakṣmaṇa left for the forest, in that same room she had stayed, never leaving it, until he should come back. So firm was her vow. Bharata: “Sister-in-law! Here, this is Hanumān,” he introduced him. “My son! Where have you come from?” she asked. “Mother! In the war between Rāma and Rāvaṇa your husband has fallen senseless. ‘Lakṣmaṇa! What is life to me without you?’: so Rāma is lamenting. To bring Lakṣmaṇa back to life I am carrying the sañjīvanī herb,” he said. At these words Ūrmilā burst out laughing. “Hanumān! Do even you not know this much? Even Lakṣmaṇa's breathing in and breathing out is filled with the Name of Rāma. No harm of any kind can come to such a one,” she said.

Embodiments of Prema! Nowhere does the Rāmāyaṇa describe the Bhakti and surrender of Sumitrā and Ūrmilā. Sumitrā is a mother who is Dharma embodied. Ūrmilā is a wife who is Prema embodied. These two gave the world a very great ideal. You too must become ‘Sumitrās’; you must become good sons. That is what the country is asking for today.