After Sundara Chozhar had sent word several times expressing his wish to see Sembiyan Maadevi, the venerable queen mother finally came to visit the Emperor. Hearing of her arrival, the Emperor walked as far as the entrance to greet her, waited there, and then led her inside. He requested her to be seated beside him on the throne.

“O King of Kings! My heart, wounded by the continual tidings of sorrow, finds solace in seeing that you are in good health. By the grace of the Almighty, may you live long, rule this world for many years, and continue to protect it,” said the aged queen.

“Mother! You speak of the strength that has returned to my legs, enabling me to walk again. I too am pleased by this! I, who could not rise to welcome you—whom all of Chozha Nadu reveres and worships—am now blessed, through the power of affection from a mute and deaf divine maiden, to have regained what I had lost. I have been granted the fortune to rise, walk, and welcome you. Yet, O Devi, I find no satisfaction in the mere fact of being alive, nor do I wish to live long any further. Please do not bestow such blessings upon me. Instead, pray that I may soon attain the abode of Shiva!” replied Sundara Chozhar.

“O Emperor! All your noble ancestors have attained either the warrior’s heaven or the feet of Shiva. Surely, in the other world, they have reserved a place for you as well. When the destined hour arrives, the hosts of Shiva will come to escort you. But there is no need for you to hasten towards such a state. You still have many duties left in this world. Under your just and unwavering rule, the people live in happiness. Temple services are being conducted everywhere. Shaivites, Vaishnavites, Buddhists, Jainas, and followers of many other faiths are all praying for your long life…”

“Mother! Let none of them pray for my life any longer. Praying for the extension of my life is but a prayer to prolong my suffering. Among all the warriors Chozha Nadu has produced, the bravest of the brave, Aditya Karikalan, has been lost to us—should I continue to live in this world for long after that? Would it not have been better if my life had ended before his?...” “Emperor! The grief of losing a son is indeed most cruel. Yet, I, a simple woman, need not speak to you of the power of fate. Was not Lord Krishna the inseparable companion of Arjuna? Krishna Paramatma, the incarnation of the divine protector Thirumal himself—yet even he could not save Ghatotkacha or Abhimanyu. Did not Arjuna continue to live even after such heroic sons perished? Was Arjuna a man without love for his children? ‘For the sake of protecting the lives of others, you must preserve your own life,’ so taught Krishna Paramatma, and Arjuna accepted this and lived on. Emperor! The counsel that Lord Krishna gave to Arjuna is fitting for you as well.”

“Mother! Abhimanyu fought valiantly on the battlefield and died a hero’s death. He attained the warrior’s heaven!”

“Your son was in no way lesser than Abhimanyu in valor! At the age of twelve, in the battle at Sevur, and at eighteen, in the final war against Veerapandiyan, the heroic deeds performed by Aditya Karikalan will never be forgotten by this world! In the end, Abhimanyu was surrounded by many, rendered weaponless, and slain in an unrighteous battle. In the same way, Aditya Karikalan too was cunningly isolated, surrounded by conspirators, and suddenly attacked and killed…”

“Mother! If only I could know for certain how he died, my heart would find some measure of peace.”

“Why wound your heart over what has already passed? Karikalan’s fate was fulfilled. The sword-star has fallen. Chola Nadu has lost a great hero. What is the use of inquiring into the manner and cause of his death?”

“Because the truth is not clear, suspicion falls upon various people. Mother! Just as Adiseshan bears the weight of the earth, Periya Pazhuvettarayar, who bore the very weight of the Chola Empire, is now the subject of suspicion for some. They heap false accusations upon him.”

“Can we not ask him directly and learn the truth?”

“Who has the courage to question Periya Pazhuvettarayar? I do not, Mother! Somehow, he has become entangled in this and his heart is deeply wounded. Unless he himself speaks of what happened, who can question him? Mother! After my great father Rajaditya fell heroically atop his elephant at the battlefield of Takkolam and attained the warrior’s heaven, the Chola army was thrown into chaos and began to scatter. It was Periya Pazhuvettarayar who blocked the fleeing soldiers, rallied them once more into an army, and drove back the forces of Kannaradevan…” The great warrior, Periya Pazhuvetarayar. Had he not acted as he did that day, the Chola kingdom would not exist today. In the battle of Thakkolam, his august body suffered sixty-four wounds. Even so, without losing heart, he stood firm on the battlefield and achieved victory. After that, we forbade him from going to war and made him an administrator. Such a man—one who is equal to my own father—what could I possibly ask of him?”

“Is there no other way for the truth to come out?”

“They say that Vandiyathevan of the Vanar clan was near Karikalan’s body. I thought we could question him and learn the truth. But he too has escaped from the underground prison. In this, Chinna Pazhuvetarayar has reason to blame the Prime Minister.”

Until now, Kundavai had remained silent. Now she interjected, “Father! Has not the Prime Minister taken responsibility, promising to bring that warrior in, no matter what?”

“My child! The Prime Minister has taken such responsibility many times before. But fulfillment is never certain. I hear that Sambhuvarayar’s son, Kandhamaaran, has gone in pursuit of the fugitive. Kandhamaaran is not much of a strategist. He