Verse twelve of the Ramayana Chaupai
Urmila Lakhan ki naari, shruti kirti ripu sudhan piyari
O Urmila Lakshman's wife, who is fearless, loving and pleasing
Huai mandhavi Gharatke vam
came home to Ayodhya
Ram Siya Ram Siya Ram A jai jai Ram
Urmila is the wife of Lakshman. She married him on the same day that Rama married Sita. She went to her new home Ayodhya soon after with her sisters that married the other three brothers of the Raghu Dynasty, princes Rama, Bharatha, and Shatrughna. Rama and Sita might have been the center point of the celebrations but it was in larger recognition of the uniting of the kingdom's of Janaka and of Ahyodya. These two auspicious kingdoms coming together marks a huge turning point in the overall energy of the world. This is a great blow to Ravana's terror. Without Sita's sisters and Rama's brothers coming together, the strong sway of positive and uplifting power over the Raksasa's darkness would not have been, and the eventual triumph of light over darkness might never have occurred.
This is a lesson this mind has to learn over and over again about humility. As a spiritual seeker I see very little material rewards for my practices, though I might work very hard. I see other's like Rama and Sita at the center point of the world's praise and celebration. The mind is too blinded by delusive darkness in ignorance to see that I am included and, in fact, one with the success of this great union supporting the overall upliftment of the world. The ego might want it's face to be in the star role, but that doesn't mean I am not one with the lead performer, sharing in all the benefits of this joyous occasion. I need to apply the practice of humility to see this eternal connection. I need to stop focusing so much on meeting the ego's desires, and more on recognizing the greater flow of joy. Laksman and Urmila served Rama and Sita selflessly realizing this. We are one with each other, and if there is joy in you or me, there is joy in both, if we apply the virtue of humility.
Urmila wants to go to the forest like Sita, but Laksman tells her that she needs to stay in Ayodhya and serve her in-laws. This was the request Rama makes to Sita, but Sita opposes it saying that she needs to follow him to the forest in order to fulfill a wife's dharma (right way of living). Urmila follows Laksman's request without question, and is also told that she could not cry despite the separation from her husband. This was because she needed to be a strong moral support for the queen mothers who are missing their sons.
Urmila is such a great example of how a spiritual seeker needs to behave in order to adapt to the mixed signals that often sent in life. If one's goal is humility and freedom from the suffering that comes from ego identification, one must behave in a humble way always. One must remember that separation is an illusion through their behavior to illustrate their understanding to themselves first and foremost, other wise there is no integration of knowledge. Urmila doesn't get her ego's desire fulfilled, but she still serves wholeheartedly without hesitation. This illustrates an integration of understanding that this mind dreams about, and does it's best to embody.
As inspiring as Laksman's dedication is to his duty, Urmila's is that much more so. Imagine the longing in Urmila's heart day and night for 14 years she wants to be with her husband sharing his joys and sorrows. Instead she has to remain behind in the palace, loyally carrying out duties to her in-laws, never shedding a tear for her heart's longing, and now she has to sleep for both herself and Laksman. I can not imagine how she did this. It is so difficult for this mind to stay still in one place for one day let alone 14 years, when its desire is so far apart from it. Having such incredible discipline to control oneself in sorrow and anger while cheerfully serving others is an incredible inspiration. If I could find that kind of discipline in this mind, so much anxiety and heartache could be overcome. Urmila shows us how to be in the world, but not of the world. She fulfills her duties loyally without expectation of her desires being fulfilled. She empties herself of her personal interests, and allows the higher dharma to be embodied within. Though difficult at first, the spiritual aspirant must learn this lesson of karma yoga, which, over time and through application, frees one from the bondage of worldly existence, and lets one rest in the Peace of the Self or God.
Interestingly this abstinence from sleep is what ultimately allows Laksman to overcome one of the greatest foes in the Ramayana, Meghananda or Indrajit, son of Ravana, the demon king, and conquer of the chief god Indra. When the spiritual aspirant fulfills their duties, miraculous events occur as a result, though they might not be directly involved the good energy that they radiate through sadhana, spiritual practice, saves more than just themselves. Through humble and consistent sadhana like Urmila demonstrates, one conquers unspeakable evil beyond the mind's ability to comprehend.