Like a dance of death, the flames had leapt, hissed and spewed sparks, as the mortal remains of Dasaratha were reduced to ashes.Back in the palace, Bharata sat dolefully, wondering how he might meet Rama. Satrughna who was in no mood was annoyed at the injustice of Rama's exile. "How can Rama, the refuge of all be cast away into the jungles by a mere woman? Was not there a strong and valiant son of Dasaratha called Lakshmana? What ever happened to him? Why did he not restrain the king, even at the expense of binding him with ropes, to protect Rama from the indignity and injustice of exile? A king, deluded by his passion for a woman and victim of her wiles has driven away Rama."

Just then, Manthara the infamous hunchback came in. Her arrival was like adding fuel to the fire of his anger. She was decked from the crown of her crooked head to the tips of her crooked toes, in a vulgar display of her ill-gotten wealth.Smeared with red sandal paste, draped in the finest of silks, wearing row upon row of gold and pearl chains, with strange glittering objects stuck all over, she looked like a monkey bound with ropes. Manthara, whom the world had condemned for its woes, sauntered in to her woe! The ludicrous woman was pounced upon with great glee, by the guards as she shrieked, more in shock than in pain. They took her to Bharata saying, "Here is the cause, of Rama's exile and Dasaratha's death. Punish this bane of Kosala as you wish". Satrughna roared to all those assembled, that he would make Manthara regret her follies.

In a fury frightening to behold, Bharata strode forth purposefully caught hold of Manthara and looked at her.Impaled by his fierce looks, which brooked no mercy, the hapless woman quailed with terror and shrieked again, as her friends fled the place to seek refuge in Kausalya. Red eyed and hissing like an angry serpent, Satrughna struck Manthara's ugly form. As he dragged her, all her ornaments broke and lay scattered while the pearls, the chains and the other baubles supposed to enhance her beauty lent their brilliance to the royal abode. The palace echoed with the howls of the mortally afraid woman who feared for her very life.

Satrughna dealt harshly with Manthara, in defiance of Kaikeyi. Even as the maid shuddered with fright witnessing his unleashed fury Kaikeyi came but quickly hid behind Bharata. Putting aside his own anger and sorrow, Bharata tried to quell his raging brother. "Though a sinner, the slaying of a woman is not permitted, if it were, my first victim would have been this wicked Kaikeyi. Fear of Rama also holds me back, for he who is the very personification of dharma, will never pardon us for defiling our hands by killing this wretched hunchback". Manthara, saved by the dharma that the Ikshvakus lived by, was relieved Manthara. She, whose counsel had benefited neither the counselor nor the counseled, fell battered and devastated, at the feet of her savior Kaikeyi, who led her away.