01Rama’s second life
Sumitra bore twins, and from the cradle Lakshmana belonged to Rama. Bala Kanda says he was dear to Rama from childhood, like a second life breathing outside his body; Rama would not sleep unless Lakshmana lay beside him, nor eat unless he was given a share. When Vishvamitra took Rama away to guard his yajna, Lakshmana went too, and he stood in Mithila when the bow broke. On the same day he married Urmila, Sita’s sister. Her long sleep through the fourteen years, so that he might stay awake, is a loved later tradition and not in Valmiki.
02Anger, then the blessing
When the exile was announced Lakshmana raged. In Kausalya’s rooms he told Rama to take the throne by force and offered to kill anyone who stood in the way, the king included. Rama calmed him: this was fate, and Kaikeyi only its instrument. Then Lakshmana asked to come, and would not be refused. His mother Sumitra sent him off with a blessing that every Hindu family knows. On the first night, at Shringaverapura, he sat awake by the fire with Guha while Rama and Sita slept on a bed of grass, and grieved aloud for his father.
03He knew only her anklets
At Panchavati Lakshmana built the hut of leaves, kept watch every night, and cut off Shurpanakha’s nose and ears at Rama’s word. When the golden deer cried out in Rama’s voice, he knew it was a trick and said so; only Sita’s words drove him away. Later, on Rishyamuka, Sugriva brought out the ornaments a woman had dropped from Ravana’s chariot. Rama wept over them. Lakshmana said he could not tell her armlets or her earrings, but he knew the anklets, because he had touched her feet every day.
04Indrajit, and the Sarayu
In Lanka, Ravana’s shakti struck Lakshmana down, and the vaidya Sushena revived him with herbs from the mountain Hanuman carried. It was Lakshmana, led by Vibhishana to the Nikumbhila grove, who broke Indrajit’s yajna and killed him with the Aindra astra.
His end in the Uttara Kanda is quiet. Kala came to speak with Rama alone and set the condition that anyone who entered would be abandoned. Durvasa arrived and threatened to curse the whole city, so Lakshmana went in. Rama gave him up, as Vasishtha advised. Lakshmana walked to the Sarayu, held his breath in yoga, and Indra carried him to heaven. Tradition sees him as Shesha.
Famous verses
नाहं जानामि केयूरे नाहं जानामि कुण्डले। नूपुरे त्वभिजानामि नित्यं पादाभिवन्दनात्॥
I do not know her armlets, I do not know her earrings. But the anklets I know, from bowing at her feet every day.Valmiki Ramayana, Kishkindha Kanda 6.22–23