Near the city of Thanjai, on the very day when a tree fell behind the palanquin in which Mandakini was carried, at the very hour when a boat was swept ashore by the wind on the banks of the heroic Narayana Lake, the events that unfolded in Nagapattinam were recounted in the previous chapters, as readers will recall.

That entire night, Nagapattinam and its surrounding regions were plunged into utter chaos and confusion. People were in such dire straits that it was impossible for them to help one another; survival itself was a blessing. Yet, the Buddhist monks wandered the streets of Nagapattinam, rendering aid to the people as much as they could.

On that same night, the Acharya Bikshu and Ponniyin Selvan remained awake for a long time within the Chola palace at Anaimangalam, conversing together. They spoke with concern about the hardships and losses that must have befallen the people living along the seashore, as the fierce storm had caused the sea to surge.

The prince summoned the palace steward and inquired about the quantity of grain stored in the royal granaries, and the amount of wealth in the treasury. It was found that the granaries were well-stocked with grain. It was also revealed that twelve copper pots filled with gold coins, sent by Sembiyan Madevi for the renovation and black stone work of the Neelayadakshi Amman temple at Thirunagai, were in safe keeping.

“Guru Deva! You have all the means necessary to perform acts of compassion befitting the will of the Buddha. Use all the grain in the palace granaries to feed the poor. Distribute all the gold coins in the copper pots to those who have lost their homes!” said the prince, Ponniyin Selvan.

“How is that just? The grain, perhaps, may be used. But can the money your great grandmother, Sembiyan Madevi, sent for the temple’s renovation be spent on something else? Will not that venerable lady be grieved?” asked the Acharya Bikshu.

“Acharya! I will appease my great grandmother myself. For now, I will spend this wealth to wipe away the suffering of the poor and destitute. In the future, I shall see to it that my grandmother’s heart is filled with joy and pride by making this Chola—” “I will build a hundred Shiva temples across the land. I will raise towering gopurams. Even if the sea rises in fury, I will erect stupas so tall that not even the waves can submerge them. In the great city of Thanjai, I will build a temple so vast, with a gopuram that touches the sky, that people will call it the Dakshina Meru!

Sir! Do not grieve if today the Chudamani Vihara has been swallowed and reduced to dust. Nearby, I will raise a new Chudamani Vihara of stone, so mighty that even a deluge cannot shake it!” The prince spoke, his voice trembling with fervor.

“Ponniyin Selva! It fills me with great joy to hear you speak of the future with such enthusiasm,” said the Bikshu.

“Yes, yes, it is the will of God that I should live in this world and accomplish some great deeds. That is why He has saved me from so many dangers that have threatened my life. Even today, look—this Murugaiyyan arrived at just the right moment. Otherwise, you and I would have been inside the Chudamani Vihara. Who could have imagined that the sea would rise so swiftly and engulf the vihara?”

“That is true. Who could have expected that an event which has not occurred in five hundred years would take place in a single moment this very afternoon? The ocean of compassion, Lord Buddha himself, has saved you from the wrath of the surging sea. Through you, he has also preserved my insignificant life. I fully agree with the deeds you propose to undertake. If you spend from the royal treasury, the treasurer Periya Pazhuvettaraiyar will be angered. But your noble grandmother will not be displeased if you allocate funds for temple restoration. That would be the proper course. Yet, would it not be fitting for you yourself to lead this great and meritorious work? This poor sanyasi cannot bear such a great responsibility!”

“Guru Deva! If I lead it openly, I will be forced to reveal myself. What you said about the Pandavas’ incognito exile is etched in my heart. The words of our own truthful Tamil poet also come to mind:

‘What is truth? It is to speak words That cause no harm, at any time.’

And also,

‘Even falsehood, if it brings good, is as pure as truth…’” “‘Do good, and good will come to you’—is that not what the ancient Tamil scriptures proclaim? My wise sister believes that if I reveal myself to the people at this time, it may lead to confusion and unrest in the land. By remaining in hiding, I bring no harm to anyone. Therefore, you must use the resources in the palace to help the people who are suffering from the fury of the storm,” said the prince.

“Ponniyin Selva! For some reason, my heart has changed. It seems to me that this is the right moment to reveal yourself and help the people. This thought has arisen in my mind, and I believe it is the will of Lord Buddha himself,” said the Bikshu.

At that moment, hearing someone sobbing, both of them turned around in surprise. Murugaiyan was sitting in a corner, covering his face with his hands, weeping uncontrollably.

The prince went to him, took his hand, and brought him forward.

“Murugayya! What is this? Why are you crying?” he asked.

“My wife… my wife…” Murugaiyan stammered, and his sobs grew louder.

“Yes, yes! We have completely forgotten about your wife. It is only natural that you are worried about what might have happened to her tonight in this storm and rain. But at this midnight hour, there is nothing we can do. At dawn, we will search for your wife and find