LAKSHMANA AND SHATRUGHNA

Mother Sumitra's twin children, Lakshmana and Shatrughna, arrived in the world crying. Sumithra tried various strategies but failed to soothe their inconsolable grief. Sage Vasishta then suggested keeping Lakshmana in the cradle with Rama, and Shatrughna in the cradle with Bharatha. Sumithra did accordingly and found that both stopped crying immediately, started drinking milk and playing in the cradle. The Sage explained thus, “Oh noble mother, a branch is a part of the tree. Humans are part of Divinity and cannot live without Him. Lakshmana did not rest until he was united with Rama and Shatrughna could not bear separation from Bharatha. The Individual cannot live apart from the Absolute Self, which is its source. A fish cannot exist away from water, even if it is placed in a golden bowl studded with precious stones. Similarly, the individual self is restless until it reaches the Absolute Self, which is its source.”
(Summer Showers 1996, Ch 3)