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