In plain words
What if he stays in Ayodhyā! What if he goes to the forest! Wherever he is, he is right with us. To Rāma, Ayodhyā and the forest are both one!” she said. After hearing Sumitrā's words, Kausalyā took some courage. Her mind found peace. Sumitrā said, “Sister! When you and Kaikeyī had one son each, two sons were born to me. Do you know the reason? Lakṣmaṇa must serve Rāma. Śatrughna must serve Bharata. I bore two sons only so that they would serve Rāma and Bharata. So let my resolve be well fulfilled. Lakṣmaṇa will go to the forest with Sītā and Rāma and guard them as the eyelid guards the eye. So you need not fear at all.”
Ūrmilā's devotion to sacrifice
Before setting out for the forest, Lakṣmaṇa went to his wife Ūrmilā. Ūrmilā did not yet know that Sītā, Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa were setting out for the forest. She was sitting in her room ‘painting’ the scene of the coronation of Sītā and Rāma. At that moment Lakṣmaṇa went there and called, “Ūrmilā!” ‘What is it, my lord?’ she said, and rose to her feet. As she rose, the paint there spilled by mistake over the picture she had drawn. “Alas, the picture I drew so beautifully is spoiled!” she lamented. Then Lakṣmaṇa said, “Ūrmilā! Kaikeyī has spoiled Śrī Rāma's coronation, which would have brought about the welfare of the world. I have spoiled the picture you drew. You need not grieve over this. I am going with Rāma to the forest,” he said. She was badly frightened. “Rāma going to the forest, how can that be! In a few moments his coronation is to take place, is it not!” she said. Then Lakṣmaṇa explained to her what had happened. Ūrmilā had a great spirit of sacrifice. She did not grieve that her husband was leaving her and going away. She rejoiced greatly that he had been given the chance to serve Sītā and Rāma.