During the first part of the journey from Kadambur to Thanjavur, Vandiyathevan was, for the most part, in a state of unconsciousness. He had been bound and placed in a wooden cart. The smoke and fire from the night when Karikalan lost his life had tormented him greatly. Whenever he regained a little awareness during the journey, the burning in his eyes and the pain in his body caused him unbearable agony. In that half-conscious state, terrifying visions appeared before him and tormented his mind.

The head of Veera Pandiyan alone would come close to his face and say, “Hey! Is it you who stands in the way of my vengeance?”—and then glare at him in anger. Sometimes, Nandini would stand before him, adorned in jewels and finery, smiling sweetly, trying to ensnare him in her web of illusion. At other times, she would appear disheveled, weeping and lamenting. In yet another vision, she would take on a ghostly form and laugh menacingly.

A shadowy figure, following Aditya Karikalan, would approach with a dagger in hand. Whenever Vandiyathevan tried to leap forward to stop it, another monstrous shadow would come from behind and seize him by the neck, choking him. Ravidasan and his companions would then lift him and throw him into a blazing fire. As his body burned, Kandanmaran would look at him and say, “Hey, traitor to friendship! You deserve this!” Parthibendran would look at him too and ask, “Hey! Has your marriage to the young princess Kundavai been fixed? When is the auspicious day?”—and then laugh thunderously.

Sendhan Amudhan would come running from somewhere to rescue him from the fire. Pinagapani, the physician’s son, would hide behind a tree and strike Sendhan Amudhan on the head with a heavy stick.

As his entire body burned, Vandiyathevan was seized by an unbearable thirst. He wanted to cry out, “Water! Water!” but no sound emerged. His throat was parched, his tongue swollen and stuck to his palate, rendering him speechless. In this state, Manimekalai appeared, carrying divine nectar in a golden goblet, and poured it into his mouth. Before he could even think to thank her, she vanished into the darkness!… Ah, for her love, one could offer all three worlds in return! But what folly it is to think of giving Manimekalai the three worlds, when he did not even possess a span of land to call his own? Look, there is Poonguzhali! “See my lovers!” she says, pointing out the fire-mouthed demons. What a wondrous woman she is! “Why do you wander in this earthly realm? Come, I will take you to the golden world!” she calls.

“You mean the world where Ponniyin Selvan dwells?” asks Vandiyathevan. At once, the fire-mouthed demons gather from all directions and surround him. Vandiyathevan, seized by fear, closes his eyes. The demons bind him, lift him up, carry him away, climb the sandy mound of the riverbank, and roll him down…

Vandiyathevan starts and opens his eyes in alarm. He realizes