The whirlwind that had swept across the sea entered the Chola land’s coastline and continued its furious journey. Just as the saying goes, “Where the stone-grinder’s son has passed, the forests and hills are reduced to dust,” so too, everywhere the whirlwind had gone, it left behind countless scenes of terrible destruction. From Kodikkarai to Kaveripoompattinam, along the Chola country’s seashores, one could clearly see the handiwork of Lord Vayu’s playful wrath. Numerous trees lay uprooted, their branches snapped and scattered. The roofs of houses had been lifted clean away by the storm and flung far and wide, shattered to bits. Huts stood as nothing but stunted walls. Everywhere in the region of Kodikkarai, the land looked like a flooded wilderness. It seemed as if the sea itself had risen and invaded the earth.

Yet, the stretch of white sand that lay between the land and the sea belied that notion. Only in those places where the sand had been mixed with clay did water now collect in abundance. In such places, if man or beast were to step in, it would be their living grave! Even elephants would be swallowed up by those pits of quicksand, which would then belch them out with a gulp!

Two days after the whirlwind had struck, Periya Pazhuvettarayar and his retinue arrived at Kodikkarai. The palanquin followed behind them. But this time, it was the young queen Nandini Devi herself who traveled in that palanquin. “There is no longer any need to secretly take Prince Madurantaka away. Besides, if I take the young queen with me now, won’t the palanquin be available again when the need arises to take Madurantaka away?” So Nandini had said, and Pazhuvettarayar had readily agreed with enthusiasm. For that elderly lord, who was immersed in the intoxication of desire, it was only natural to wish to take that celestial beauty along with him.

Before the whirlwind, they had already reached Nagapattinam. There, the officer in charge first fulfilled his official duties.

At that time, Nagapattinam was one of the major port cities of Tamil Nadu. From foreign lands, all manner of goods arrived at that harbor in great wooden ships. Thousands of small boats would ferry those goods to the shore. From the shore, other goods would be loaded and taken back to the ships. There were many officials appointed to levy and collect tolls and taxes for all these things. Was it not the right and duty of the Chola Nadu’s Chief Administrator, the great Periya Pazhuvettaraiyar, to oversee whether they were performing their duties properly?

After completing that work, Periya Pazhuvettaraiyar visited the renowned Chudamani Buddhist Vihara in Nagapattinam. The bhikshus received him with due respect and attended to him. The Chief Administrator inquired whether the vihara needed anything, or if the bhikshus lacked anything. The bhikshus replied that they wanted for nothing, and expressed their gratitude to Sundara Chola.

A few days earlier, two bhikshus from this vihara had come to Thanjavur to see the Emperor. On behalf of the Buddhist Sangha, they had conveyed their wishes for Sundara Chola’s swift recovery from illness. At that time, they had also expressed their appreciation for the services rendered by Prince Arulmozhi Varman to the Buddhist faith in Lanka. They said that the prince had issued orders to restore ruined Buddhist viharas, and that these were being carried out, bringing immense joy to the Maha Sangha of Buddhist bhikshus in Lanka.

“O Emperor! We have also heard another joyous piece of news. It seems that a large section of the bhikshus in Lanka wish to offer their ancient throne to your younger prince, and crown him as the King of Lanka! They are discussing this among themselves! What greater proof could there be of our prince’s greatness than this?” they said.

As he listened to this, a rare thought dawned in the heart of Periya Pazhuvettaraiyar. After the bhikshus had left, he shared it with Emperor Sundara Chola.

“O Lord who rules the three worlds! Your authority is established and spreads in all eight directions. There is no one in this vast earth who does not obey your command. Yet, only your two beloved sons seem exempt from this. There are some who hold high positions in the Chola Empire who are poisoning their minds with ill counsel. Aditya Karikalan refuses to come here as you wish, and instead sends you a palm-leaf letter asking you to come to Kanchi. The one who is misleading him thus is none other than your father-in-law, Thirukovalur Malayaman. Likewise, you have repeatedly sent word for your younger son to return from Lanka. I too have sent men until they are weary. But that treacherous Periya Velar of Kodumbalur is ensuring that our men do not meet the prince, and that our letters do not reach him. Otherwise, your beloved— “Will the prince delay so long in coming, even after knowing your wishes?” asked Pazhuvetarayar. “In this situation, a thought occurs to me. If you permit, I will share it.”

With the Emperor’s consent, the nobleman revealed his idea. “Let us send an order accusing the prince of plotting to seize the throne of Lanka and crown himself, and command that he be arrested and brought here. Such an order cannot be stopped by Boothi Vikramakesari. Moreover, if we somehow ensure that the order reaches the prince directly, he will be compelled to come!”

Hearing this, Sundara Chozhar smiled. It was indeed a strange idea; yet, why not try it? The longing to see Ponni’s beloved son surged in the Emperor’s heart. He felt that his final days were drawing near. Therefore, he wished to express his heart’s desire regarding the kingdom to his dearly beloved younger son. If Arulmozhi learned of his father’s wish to grant the throne of Thanjavur to Madurantakan, he would accept it without a word of protest. Later, through him, it would be easier to change the mind of Aditya Karikalan as well.

Thinking thus, the