Sumitra (,
Tamil: சுமித்திரை ,
Burmese: Thumitra,
Malay: Samutra,
Khmer: សមុទ្រ,
Samutthra Thewi) in the
Indian epic
Ramayana, was the third of King
Dasharatha's three wives and a queen of
Ayodhya. She was the mother of twins
Lakshmana and
Shatrughna. She came from the ancient kingdom of
Kashi. She was third wife of King
Dasharatha. She was the wisest of the wives of Dasaratha. She was the one to first realize that Rama was the incarnation of
Lord Narayana. She even encouraged
Lakshmana to accompany Rama and serve him during his exile. Sumitra often helped Dashratha with his problems.