Canto 1: Bāla-kāṇḍa (Boyhood)Chapter 18: The Advent of Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa, Bharata and ŚatrughnaText 1.18.22
Canto 1 - Boyhood
Bāla-kāṇḍa
Chapter 18: The Advent of Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa, Bharata and Śatrughna
Text 1.18.22
ज्येष्ठं रामं महात्मानं भरतं कैकेयीसुतम्।
सौमित्रिं लक्ष्मण इति शत्रुघ्नमपरं तथा॥
jyeṣṭhaṁ rāmaṁ mahātmānaṁ bharataṁ kaikeyī-sutam
saumitriṁ lakṣmaṇa iti śatrughnam aparaṁ tathā
jyeṣṭham = [the king gave] his eldest son; rāmam = the name Rāma; mahā-ātmānam = of great nature; bharatam = Bharata; kaikeyī-sutam = [he named] Kaikeyī’s son; saumitrim = Sumitrā’s son; lakṣmaṇa iti = Lakṣmaṇa; śatrughnam = Śatrughna; aparam = the other; tathā = and.
[The king gave] his eldest son of great nature the name Rāma. [He named] Kaikeyī’s son Bharata, Sumitrā’s son Lakṣmaṇa and the other Śatrughna.
Who received which name? That is set out here.
Rāma etymologically refers to the one whose qualities please everyone. He possesses an unlimited number of qualities.
Bharata, literally “the maintainer,” was actually responsible for maintaining the kingdom of Kosala after Daśaratha died and before Lord Rāma took charge of it.
Lakṣmaṇa literally means “the prosperous one.” He was indeed prosperous with the wealth of menial service to Rāma.
Śatrughna will become the killer (ghna) of His enemies (śatru).