Shatrughana, the youngest of Rama's brothers is an example of an ardent devotee. He had put his life in the hands of his brother Bharat who was himself a dedicated devotee of Lord Rama and made serving Him as his motto and he never deviated from his path.

Shatrughana was the son of the youngest queen Sumitra. When they (Bharat and Shatrughana) were suddenly summoned from the home of their maternal grandfather to reach Ayodhya at once, they had grown suspicious of some serious happening. Their suspicion proved right for in Ayodhya, they found their father had died and Rama, Lakshmana and Sita absent in the palace. Then learning about the conspiracy hatched by Manthara, the maid of Kaikayee, the indignant Shatrughana began to chastise her. But kind Bharat stopped him.

Thereafter, meeting Rama at Chitrakoot, Bharat returned and began his penance at Nandigram outside Ayodhya. Thus the onus of ruling the kingdom and protecting his mothers and the subjects of Ayodhya came to rest with Shatrughana. But Shatrughana was himself very much anguished by Rama's exile. Every kind of luxury was worthless for him in that situation. Renouncing every comfort and observing fasts, abiding by the principles etc. which could have mitigated his anguish. No penance is harder than suppressing one's anguish, smiling to please others and bearing the responsibility of the kingdom. Only someone who has experienced it himself can feel it. The onus of serving his widowed mothers rested on Shatrughana. It was his responsibility to keep his mothers happy. Now, if he did not appear in royal attire and bedecked in ornaments before his mothers, they would feel extreme pain and their sorrow would rise again. Hence for fourteen long years, Shatrughana kept Rama's idol in his heart, observed full restraint, he accepted the royal comforts and pretended to be happy always. It was indeed a severe penance for Shatrughana and he observed it faithfully for the fourteen years.

After the crowning of Shri Rama and by His permission, Shatrughana killed the demon Lavana. Killing the demon, Shatrughana then founded the city of Madhupuri and established his own kingdom. This city is now known as Mathura. Having lived his life fully, he gave his kingdom to his sons and himself went to Rama. Thus, for the whole of his life, Shatrughana remained a true follower of his brother Bharat.