Then Satrughna, the younger brother of Lakshmana spoke unto Bharata
burning in grief as he was revolving in his mind the (intended) journey
(to Rama), "Need it be said that Rama is the refuge both of himself and
all creatures in trouble? That Rama possessed of strength hath been
exiled into the woods by a woman! And powerful and having prowess, why
did not Lakshmana deliver Rama by checking our father? The king bent
upon following an unrighteous course through the influence of a woman,
should, the justice or otherwise of the measure being fully weighed, at
the very outset have been checked." As Lakshmana's younger brother
Satrughna was speaking thus, appeared there at the door in front the
hump-backed one adorned with every kind of ornament, with her body
besmeared with sandal paste, wearing regal apparel, and variously decked
out with a variety of ornaments. And adorned with elegant cones, and
divers other superb ornaments, she looked like a female monkey tethered
with a rope. At that time seeing that one of horrible misdeeds,
(Bharata) who stood near the door, seizing the hump backed one
ruthlessly, took her unto Satrughna, and said, "That one through whom
Rama has gone to the wood and our father has renounced his body this is
that wicked and remorseless one. Do thou deal with her as thou likest."
At Bharata's command Satrughna observing vows waxing exceedingly
aggrieved, addressed all the inmates of the inner apartment, saying,
"This one has occasioned intense misery unto my father and brothers. Let
her now take the fruit of her fell deed." Having said this, he furiously
fell upon the hump backed one surrounded by her maids. Thereupon she
with her cries made the chamber resound. Concluding Satrughna fired with
rage, her associates extremely pained, fled away in all directions. Then
her companions in a body took counsel of each other, saying,
"considering the way in which he has entered upon it, he will annihilate
us quite. Let us therefore seek the protection of the tender hearted
generous, pious and illustrious Kaucalya. Even she is our sure refuge.
Overpowered with rage, that chastiser of foes, Satrughna, dragged the
shrieking hump-backed one to the ground. As Manthara was pushed this way
and that, her various ornaments were scattered over the floor. Aad
strewn with those ornaments, the graceful chamber of the palace looked
like the autumnal firmament. And that foremost of men possessed of
strength holding her, began to reprove Kaikeyi with harsh speech.
Extremely hurt by those rough words, Kaikeyi terrified on account of
Satrughna, took refuge with her son. Thereupon casting his eyes on
Satrughna, Bharata said, "A woman is incapable of being slain by any. Do
thou therefore excuse her. I myself would have slain this wicked Kaikeyi
of impious deeds, if the righteous Rama should not be displeased with me
on account of my slaying my mother. And if Raghava knows that the
hump-backed one hath been slain, he surely will speak neither with thee
nor me." Hearing Bharata's words, Satrughna, younger brother unto
Lakshmana, refrained from that wrong and set free the hump-backed woman
in a swoon. Thereat, sighing hard in exceeding grief, Manthara flung
herself at Kaikeyi's feet, weeping piteously. Seeing the hump-backed one
deprived of her senses in consequence of the pushing she had received at
the hands of Satrughna, Bhjarata's mother consoled that distressed
woman, who appeared like a Kraunchi that had been entrapped.