Wife of Shatrughna, daughter of  Kushadhwaja, and niece of Janaka. (Glossary of the Vahinis)

Shrutakirti was the daughter of Kushadhwaja, brother of Janaka. (SSB 1996 p.32)

Shrutakirti was gifted by (Janaka) with the pouring of holy water and Vedic recitation to Shatrughna. (RKRV Part I p.189)

Shrutakirti is another character in the Ramayana who is extremely noble. She always tried to lighten the burden of her husband Shatrughna by giving him suitable advice. She would never utter words that could harm others. ‘Shruta+ Kirti’, as the name suggests, would always speak what was good and conveyed that which was pleasant and pleasing to the ear. She would encourage only what was good and beneficial to others. Dasharatha’s daughters-in law were real gems. (SSB 2002, p. 92)

However, in our story, only Rama and Sita are depicted as the lead characters. Not much importance is given to the other roles in the epic. If Lakshmana, Shatrughna, Urmila, Mandavi and Shrutakirti were not there. The glory of Rama and Sita could not have been highlighted. Rama could not live even a minute without Lakshmana by his side. He would not eat without Lakshmana giving him company. Rama hence demonstrated the ideal of unity and co-existence to the world. In the Vedas, there is a Shloka that amply describes this idealism.

Om Sahana Vavatu Sahanau Bhunaktu

Saha Viryam Karavavahai

Tejasvi Navaditamastu 

Ma Vidvishavahai

(Let us all move together, let us all grow together,

Let us all stay united and share our knowledge,

Let us live together with friendship and without disharmony.)

The four brothers displayed such a unity amongst themselves. Today, if there are four children in the house, they take four different directions. (SSB 2002, pp. 92-93)

All arrangements were made for return Journey to Ayodhya, but Mandavi and Shrutakirti were hesitating to start on that day. Shrutakirti was an expert in the science of reading omens; felt that it was not an auspicious day for the journey. But they could not tell it openly to everybody; so they said that they would join the group later. However, Dasharatha refused to agree to the suggestion and wanted them to get ready for the journey.  Urmila who heard from Mandavi, the cause for hesitation said to Sita that the day was not auspicious for starting the journey. Then Sita replied to her: “Why should you worry when the Lord Himself is coming with us? Lord Rama is an Embodiment of Time. When the Lord Himself is coming with us, we should not wait for any auspicious time Rama will look after us if anything untoward happens on the way. (SSB 1996 p.34)

What we need to know is that, while as the four brothers spread their ideals to the world, their wives too did not lag in doing the same. As her husband, Shatrughna ruled the kingdom; Shrutakirti lent admirable support to him just as Mandavi stood by Bharata. They never aspired for anything else. Except at the time of dawn and dusk when they would go to mother Kausalya for her blessings, they never had any other commitments. The good influence of such noble characters can be felt throughout Ramayana. (SSB 2002, p.90)