In the secret council chamber of the Thanjavur palace, Emperor Parantaka Sundara Chozha sat enthroned upon the Dharma Singhasana. The most prominent among the women of the palace were seated on either side of him. The ministers, commanders, and royal princes of Chozha Nadu stood before the emperor in attitudes of respectful reverence. Among the women, the senior empress Sembiyan Maadevi, the queen Vanamaadevi, the younger princess Kundavai, and the Kodumbalur princess Vanathi were present. Poonguzhali, hesitant to mingle with the others, stood a little apart.

Among the men, the elder Pazhuvettaraiyar and the younger Pazhuvettaraiyar, the chief minister Aniruddha, the commander-in-chief Periya Velar, the lord of Miladu Malaiyaman, Prince Arulmozhi Varman, the reborn Madurantaka Devar, and Parthibendran Pallavan were all present, with Parthibendran standing a little behind the chief minister.

The emperor cast his gaze over those assembled in the hall and asked, “Have all those who were summoned arrived? I do not see the lord of Kadambur.”

“The son of the Samburayar has just returned. Both father and son will be here shortly,” replied Parthibendran.

“Oh! Kandhamaaran has returned? What news does he bring? Has he captured those who fled?” inquired Sundara Chozhar.

“No, my lord! He could not capture them. But he claims to have slain Vandiyathevan. Another madman has not been caught; it seems he escaped,” said Parthibendran.

At this, the elder Pazhuvettaraiyar let out a grunt. The others expected him to speak, but he said nothing.

The emperor said, “I do not know what further consequences may arise from the mistakes I have made! Chief minister! You know well the thoughts in my heart. I have summoned here those most dear to me and to my lineage. The reason for this gathering, and my intentions, you must explain to them. You can express it more clearly than I can, can you not?”

“Yes, Your Majesty!” said the Prime Minister, and then, turning to address the assembly, he spoke:

“You are all aware of the many reasons that have wounded the Emperor’s heart. Our king was recently forced to lose his eldest son, a warrior among warriors, comparable to Abhimanyu and Aravan. The cause of the prince’s death remains shrouded in mystery. For three years, our king has not seen that valiant son. Though Karikalan sent message after message, urging his father to come and stay at the golden palace he had built in Kanchi, the Emperor did not go. You all know the reason for this. Here, in this great city of Thanjavur, the Emperor has remained under the protection of Chinna Pazhuvetarayar. Many rumors have spread throughout the land and its cities. In such circumstances, if the Emperor were to leave Thanjavur, might not some suspect that he had lost faith in the Pazhuvetarayar brothers? The Emperor did not wish to give room for such thoughts.

Now, I will openly speak of something our king hesitates to say himself. For this, I beg the forgiveness of the noble chieftains of royal blood gathered here.