Kundavai Piratti pondered how she might console Manimekalai. Her heart, overwhelmed by unbearable sorrow and anxiety, was so troubled that no comforting thought would come to her. At that moment, a great commotion arose at the palace entrance. “Vanathi! Look and see what it is! These people have forgotten even the Emperor’s state of mind and health! How can they make such a clamor?” she exclaimed. Vanathi hurried to the palace front, peered out, and immediately returned in haste. With great excitement, she said, “Akka! He is coming!” “Who do you mean by ‘he’?” Kundavai asked with a smile. “It is him, Akka! Your younger brother!” At once Kundavai said, “Very well, then. Take this girl a little aside for now.” Seeing Vanathi hesitate, the young princess added, “Go quickly! He will not leave without seeing you. I will send for you myself.” Once Vanathi took Manimekalai by the hand and led her away, Ponniyin Selvan arrived at that spot. “My brother! I hear that wherever you go, crowds gather and raise a tumult. Now you have brought them right to the palace gates! If the Emperor, whose heart is wounded and sunk in sorrow, were to hear this uproar, how much pain it would cause him!” she said. “What can I do, Akka! Am I alone free from anguish? Even before Karikalan’s heroic body was reduced to ashes, these people have begun to shout, ‘Crown Arulmozhi!’ This clamor is harsh to my ears. Every moment, I feel like running away without telling anyone. But if I do so, the confusion will only grow greater…” “There is always a lingering fear—will they let me go? If Madurantakan and the petty kings plot together and kill me, the people will believe it without question. The thought of the calamities that might arise from such a belief makes my heart tremble with dread.”

“Yes, yes! Never do such a thing! Cast away even the thought! Let the people think what they may. But the Emperor’s heart would surely break. It is enough that he is already tormented by memories of Mandakini Devi and Karikalan!” said the Younger Princess.

“That is why I hesitate to flee. Somehow, I wish to speak good words to the people and the warriors, and try to win their consent to crown Madurantakan. Whenever I speak, the people listen with careful attention. But the moment I turn away, they resume their old shouts. I come away thinking I have changed their minds, but immediately, the elder of Thirukovalur and the Velar of Kodumbalur go and sway the minds of the soldiers! Akka! It is about them that I came to speak to you. You must summon Malayaman and the Velar and speak to them. No matter what I say, they do not heed me. If you speak, perhaps they will listen…”

“I too have tried to persuade them in every way, Thambi! But I have not been able to change their stubbornness. We must look for some other means…”

“Akka! There is one thing you may not have told the Velar. If you tell him this, perhaps he will not be so obstinate about crowning me.”

“What is that, Thambi?”

“You must tell him about the vow your friend Vanathi has made. Has she not sworn that she will never sit upon the throne with me? If you tell the great Velar about this, perhaps he will not be so insistent on crowning me!”

“Thambi! Did you think I had not told him that? I have already told him. Do you know what he said to that? ‘Would you ruin a great kingdom for the foolishness of a young girl? If not Vanathi, there are a hundred princesses in this land of Bharata waiting to garland Arulmozhi. They would climb the throne if asked, and would even climb a palmyra tree if told!’ Thus spoke the Commander-in-Chief, casting a fierce glance at Vanathi. The poor girl was utterly shaken!”

Arulmozhi Varman smiled and said, “It’s fortunate that I didn’t faint and fall down at that moment!” As he spoke, he glanced all around.

“I have sent Vanathi on an errand,” said the younger princess.

“Akka! If you and Vanathi stand firmly on my side, we might somehow manage this. The two of us can go to the Emperor. These two elders will obey only the Emperor’s strict command…”

“There is an obstacle to that as well, my brother! Isn’t Sembiyan Madevi standing in the way? If she stubbornly insists on the opposite of what we say, what will our father do? Even if his heart is shaken, it will be of no use. That is why I am afraid to trouble the Emperor about this matter.”

“In that case, the two of us must go together and pray to Sembiyan Madevi herself. We must try to change her mind. The reason she is adamant that the crown should not be given to Madurantaka is only what we have guessed. Just a short while ago, I met her at the house of Prime Minister Aniruddha. Today, for the first time, she told Madurantaka the truth. When she said, ‘You are not my son,’ you should have seen our uncle’s face. His beautiful face, usually shining with serenity, changed into the visage of a fierce demon. Fortunately, I arrived at that moment…”

“Is that so? What happened then?” asked Kundavai.

“In front of grandmother, I stood with folded hands and said, ‘Mother! I too know that Madurantaka is not the son born from your womb. But what of it? The beloved son you raised is your son indeed, is he not? Therefore, he should be crowned king.’”

“What did the elder princess Sembiyan Madevi reply to that?”

“Before she could reply, I turned and left.”

“Brother! Even if Madurantaka is not Sembiyan Madevi’s son, doesn’t he have a claim to the Chola throne in another way? Didn’t you say that he too is our father’s son, your brother?”

“I did