From the moment Aditya Karikalan arrived at the Kadambur palace, both the permanent residents and the guests who had come to stay found themselves as if standing on thorns, as if walking over fire. No one could predict at what moment, or in what form, a weapon might spring from the prince’s tongue. Thus, everyone was in a state of constant anxiety and distress.

Karikalan would often, with sly gestures and veiled words, allude to the conspiracy to place Madurantaka on the Chola throne, causing the others to tremble with unease. Pazhuvettaraiyar could not bear this. He pressed Sambhuvaraiyar, insisting that the views of the minor chieftains must be openly conveyed to Karikalan. But Sambhuvaraiyar would reply, “Have patience; after all, he is our guest, and a mere youth. What does it matter if his intentions come to naught? Let us wait for the right moment to speak,” and thus kept postponing the matter.

Before they could resolve the dilemma of how to broach the subject, Aditya Karikalan himself, one day when all were gathered together, boldly raised the issue.

“I have come here to seek the counsel of Pazhuvur Grandfather and Kadambur Uncle on a matter of great importance. I shall ask it now. Three years ago, my father publicly crowned me as the heir-apparent to the Chola kingdom. All of you gave your consent to this. Now it seems the Emperor has changed his mind. I hear he wishes to place Madurantaka on the throne and crown him king. For this reason, he has sent me summons upon summons, urging me to come to Thanjavur. I have been refusing and putting off the journey. Why should I go to Thanjavur? Why should I stand before my father and openly defy his word? Is it not better to stay away altogether? Pazhuvur Grandfather! Kadambur Uncle! You are elders, wise in all matters of justice. Tell me yourselves: is it right for my father, after all this time, to ask me to relinquish the kingdom to Madurantaka? Would it be a crime for me to refuse?”

When Aditya Karikalan asked this so directly, everyone was struck dumb with astonishment. Pazhuvetaraiyar cleared his throat, thinking to buy some time before answering, and said, “Prince! Surely you must have consulted your grandfather of Thirukovalur about this matter? What does Malayaman say?”

“Ah! Don’t you all know that old man’s nature by now? Would he ever agree to let his grandson’s throne pass to another? He would sooner cut down both me and my mother who bore me! Even now, Malayaman has begun gathering his forces—to secure his grandson’s claim to the throne! But I am not going to act solely on his words. I will do as all of you say!” Karikalan replied, with the innocence of a most dutiful son.

Pazhuvetaraiyar, deceived by this, said, “We are not the sort to incite a son to oppose his father, as Malayaman does. Whatever command the Emperor gives, we are all bound to