Shatrughna (Sanskrit: शत्रुघ्न, IAST: Śatrughna), meaning "killer of enemies", is a figure in the Hindu epic Ramayana. He is the youngest brother of Rama and is also known as Ripudaman. Within the tradition of the epic, he is described as the King of Madhupuri and Vidisha, and is regarded as an incarnation of the Sudarshana Chakra, the discus of the god Vishnu.
Key Facts
| Name | Shatrughna (Śatrughna) |
|---|---|
| Other name | Ripudaman |
| Meaning | "Killer of enemies" |
| Tradition | Hinduism |
| Source text | Ramayana |
| Twin brother | Lakshmana |
| Elder brothers | Rama, Bharata |
| Spouse | Shrutakirti |
| Kingdoms | Madhupuri and Vidisha |
| Considered an incarnation of | Sudarshana Chakra of Vishnu |
Background
In the Ramayana, Shatrughna is portrayed as the twin of Lakshmana and the youngest of the four brothers. He is described as a close companion and loyalist of Bharata, paralleling the bond between Lakshmana and Rama. He is married to Shrutakirti.
Role and Significance
According to the epic tradition, Shatrughna ruled the cities of Madhupuri and Vidisha. He is regarded within the Vaishnava tradition as a partial manifestation of the Sudarshana Chakra, the divine discus associated with Vishnu.
Shatrughna also appears in the Vishnu Sahasranama of the Mahabharata, where the name occurs as the 412th of the thousand names of Vishnu.
Among the four brothers of the Ramayana, Shatrughna receives comparatively little narrative attention and is often described as the least prominent of Rama's brothers.
Related Topics
References
- "Shatrughna", English Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shatrughna