Lakṣmaṇa, strong and mighty as he is, should have freed Rāma from his plight—even if it meant restraining our own father, Shatrughna said with anguish. He questioned why Lakṣmaṇa, with all his valor, did not intervene, even if it required opposing their father, who had fallen under the sway of a woman and wandered from the path of righteousness. Shatrughna lamented that their father should have been restrained earlier, especially when the difference between right and wrong was clear. As Shatrughna spoke these bitter words, Kubjā—Manthara, the hunchbacked maid—adorned in all her ornaments, appeared at the eastern gate. She was smeared with fine sandalwood paste, dressed in royal garments, and gleamed with a variety of ornaments, shining brightly. Her jeweled girdles and many cords made her look, in Shatrughna’s eyes, like a monkey bound with ropes. The doorkeeper, recognizing Manthara as the schemer behind recent evils, seized the pitiless Kubjā and brought her before Shatrughna. “Here is the woman because of whom Rāma was sent to the forest and your father gave up his life—this wicked and cruel one. Do with her as you see fit,” he said. Hearing this, Shatrughna, deeply distressed but resolute, addressed all the attendants of the inner palace. “She who has caused such intense suffering to my brothers and my father—let her now reap the consequences of her cruel deed.” At his command, Manthara, surrounded by her companions, was quickly seized and forcefully dragged away, wailing in distress. Her companions, greatly alarmed by Shatrughna’s fury, scattered in every direction. Gathering together, they whispered in fear, “Now that he has come upon us, he will destroy us all completely. Let us seek refuge with Kausalyā, who is compassionate, generous, righteous, and renowned. She will surely be our safe haven.” Meanwhile, Shatrughna, his eyes red with anger, dragged the crying Manthara along the ground. As she was dragged here and there, her many curious ornaments scattered across the palace floor, making the splendid royal residence resemble the autumn sky strewn with stars. Overwhelmed by anger, Shatrughna, the mighty bull among men, rebuked Kaikeyi harshly, speaking rough and bitter words to her. Struck by these painful words, Kaikeyi was deeply distressed and, terrified by Shatrughna’s wrath, sought refuge with her son, Bharata. Seeing his brother enraged, Bharata spoke to Shatrughna: “Women are not to be slain by any being; forgive her. I would kill this wicked Kaikeyi, who has acted so evilly, if the righteous Rāma would not blame me for slaying my own mother. If Rāma, the virtuous one, learns that even this hunchback has been killed, he will surely not speak to you or to me.” Hearing Bharata’s words, Shatrughna, Lakṣmaṇa’s younger brother, withdrew from his anger and released Manthara. Manthara, gasping and overwhelmed with sorrow, fell at Kaikeyi’s feet and lamented pitiably. Seeing her in this state—her senses bewildered by Shatrughna’s violence—Kaikeyi, Bharata’s mother, gently comforted her, who clung to her like a distressed bird. Now, listen to the seventy-ninth sarga of the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa. At dawn on the fourteenth day, the royal ministers gathered and spoke to Bharata: “King Daśaratha, our greatest elder, has gone to heaven, having exiled Rāma, the eldest, and mighty Lakṣmaṇa. Now, O prince of great fame, you must be our king today; for with the kingdom leaderless, it is not proper for us to act otherwise. All the consecration materials are ready, O Rāghava; your people and the guilds await you. Accept the kingdom, Bharata, the great inheritance from your father and grandfather; consecrate yourself and protect us, best of men.” Bharata, steadfast in his vow, circumambulated all the consecration materials and addressed the assembled people. “Kingship always belongs to the eldest in our family; wise men like you should not speak to me in this way. For Rāma is our elder brother and will be king of the earth; but I will dwell in the forest for fourteen years. Let a great army, mighty and fourfold, be readied; I myself will bring back my elder brother Rāghava from the forest. All the consecration materials, fully prepared, will be taken before us; I will go to the forest for Rāma’s sake. There itself, having consecrated that tiger among men with all due rites, I will bring Rāma back, as fire is brought from the sacrifice. I will not fulfill the wishes of my mother, who reeks of selfishness; I will dwell in the harsh forest, and Rāma will be king. Let the craftsmen make the road, whether level or uneven, and let guards, skilled in traversing difficult paths, accompany us.” As the prince spoke thus for Rāma’s sake, all the people replied with words of great beauty and excellence: “May the goddess of fortune, Lakṣmī, attend you as you speak thus, wishing to give the earth to your elder brother, the prince.