During the grand reception accorded to Nambiyandar Nambi, Pinagapani could not enter the assembly hall. He stood amidst the crowd gathered beyond the threshold, peering inside. We have already seen that Vandiyathevan’s attention was elsewhere. But Pinagapani’s eyes were fixed solely upon Vandiyathevan’s face. There was yet another who, though he saw all this, pretended not to notice—our old friend, Azhwarkadiyan.

After having unsettled Prince Madurantaka’s mind with his ominous predictions, Vandiyathevan emerged from the palace. There, a little distance away, the physician’s son, who had been waiting, approached him and asked, “Sir! Who are you?”

Vandiyathevan was startled to see Pinagapani. Without betraying his surprise, he replied, “What did you ask?”

“I asked who you are,” said Pinagapani.

“Who am I, you ask? Which ‘me’ do you mean? Do you refer to this body composed of the five elements—earth, water, fire, air, and ether? Or do you mean the soul, which is the basis of life? Or do you seek the Supreme Soul, which is the foundation of the soul itself? Sir, what kind of question is this? Neither you exist, nor I. All is filled with the Divine! The world is but an illusion; the truth of the soul, the Lord, and the bond—learn these from great men like Tirunaraiyur Nambi!” So saying, Vandiyathevan leapt onto his horse waiting at the palace gate. After riding swiftly for a while, he realized that the physician’s son was not following him, and so he slowed his pace and continued on leisurely.

But was the physician’s son one to be so easily deceived? His suspicions were now confirmed. He went straight to the city’s chief of police and reported the matter. Taking with him two guards sent by the officer, he began to search the town. Just as he had expected, he encountered Vandiyathevan at a crossroads.

“This is the spy! Arrest him!” he shouted.

“What’s this, man? Have you lost your mind?” exclaimed Vallavaraiyan. “Whom do you call mad? This body? The life within it? The soul? The Supreme Soul? Or the cow, the lord, or the bondage?” said Pinagapani, the physician’s son.

“From the way you’re raving now, it’s clear that you’re the madman!” retorted Vandiyathevan.

“I am not mad; I am the physician who accompanied you all the way to Kodikkarai! Guards! This is the spy who escaped from the Tanjavur fort and fled to Lanka! Seize him at once!”

The guards closed in on Vallavaraiyan. “Be careful! Don’t act rashly, just because you heard his words! I am the soothsayer who came with Prince Madurantaka Devar!” declared Vandiyathevan.

“No, no! He is a great liar. Arrest him at once!” shouted the physician’s son.

By now, a large crowd had gathered around them. Some in the crowd spoke in support of Vandiyathevan; others sided with the physician’s son.

“He doesn’t look like a soothsayer,” said one.

“Nor does he look like a spy,” said another.

“Can a soothsayer be so young?”

“Why not? Would a spy ride openly through the streets on horseback?”

“Why would a soothsayer carry a sword?”

“If he is a spy, whose spy is he? Why has he come to Pazhaiyarai to snoop around?”

Meanwhile, Pinagapani kept shouting, “Arrest him! Arrest him at once! This is an order from the Pazhuvettaraiyars!”

At the mention of the Pazhuvettaraiyars’ name, many in the crowd began to feel sympathy for Vandiyathevan. They wondered if there was any way to help him escape.

Just then, Azhwarkkadiyan joined the edge of the crowd.

“Is the soothsayer who came with the prince here?” he shouted.

“No; he is a spy!” Pinagapani yelled back.

“What nonsense is this? If you are truly the soothsayer who came with Prince Madurantaka Devar, come with me! The princess has sent for you!” said Azhwarkkadiyan.

Vandiyathevan’s heart leapt with excitement. “I am that soothsayer! Here I come!” he declared.

“Don’t go! Don’t let the spy escape!” shouted Pinagapani, the physician’s son, from behind.

Azhwarkkadiyan said, “Prove that you are the soothsayer! Only then can you come with me!” At the same time, he signaled with his eyes.

“In what manner do you want me to prove it?” Vandiyathevan asked hurriedly.

“Look there—aren’t two horses approaching at great speed? It seems those who ride them are bringing some urgent news. If that is true, tell me what message they bear!”

Vandiyathevan scrutinized the riders approaching on horseback and replied, “Ah, I will tell you! A member of the royal family has met with a water-related accident! They bring tidings of that tragedy!”

Even before he could close his mouth after speaking, the horses had drawn near the crowd. Since the people did not make way, the horses came to a halt.

“You seem to be messengers—what news do you bring?” Azhwarkkadiyan asked.

“Yes, we are messengers! We bring grievous news. It is said that Prince Arulmozhi’s ship was caught in a whirlpool. The prince, in an attempt to save someone, leapt into the sea and has disappeared beneath the waves!”

As soon as one of the riders uttered these words, cries of “Ayyo! Aiyago!” rose from the crowd, their tones so sorrowful they seemed to rend the heart. No one knew from where such a multitude had gathered, nor could anyone say how they had assembled so quickly. Men and women, the old and the young, boys and girls—all surrounded the messengers in a great throng. Many bombarded them with questions; many wept and wailed.

It was already known to many in the city that the Pazhuvettarayars did not favor Arulmozhi. Rumors had reached their ears that the Pazhuvettarayars had sent men into Eezham to capture the prince and bring him back. Therefore, many in the crowd began at first to mutter about the Pazhuvettarayars. Soon, they began to curse them aloud.

“The Pazhuvettarayars must have deliberately drowned the prince in the sea—” “They must!”—so they spoke among themselves. The sound of their voices, their lamentations, and their curses against the Pazhuvettarayars all rose together like