CHAPTER 48

MAHENDRA PALLAVAR’S DEFEAT

Sivakami glared at the dagger, eyes spitting fire and fury. When she spoke to Vichithra Siddhar, her voice shook, throat convulsing with emotion.

“Pallavendra, if you please – whose was the traitorous hand that dared to even think about plunging this dagger in Maamallar’s back? Tell me! If such a thing truly did happen on my account –”

The Emperor intervened before she could finish her tirade. “Kindly do not give in to anger and declare a vow, my dear. Now is hardly the time for it. Yes, you were the reason for this danger – but it was not your fault; you were unaware of it. Do you truly not realize who might be the owner of such a poisonous instrument?”

“I have never even seen such a thing, Your Majesty.”

“And do you not know of someone who possesses a snake in his very name, Amma?”

“Naganandhi Adigal?” Astonishment and fear mingled in Sivakami’s voice.

“Indeed.”

“Ayyo! Why would he wish to kill Maamallar? I can scarcely believe it!”

“But why not? Surely you have heard of hatred and the urge to kill, in far harsher ways than what we see now?”

“Why would Naganandhi nurse any hatred towards Maamallar? A saffron-clothed monk too –”

“Sivakami, what does it matter if he is a monk, saffron-clothed or otherwise? Would a man’s head and heart never be turned by a beautiful woman? Have we not heard of the stern sage Viswamitra’s penance, destroyed by the exquisitely lovely Menakai? If Buddha Sangams these days are haunts of vice and villainy – such a thing is hardly surprising, is it?”

“I still don’t understand – why would Naganandhi wish to kill Maamallar?”

“Your extraordinary beauty went to his head, my dear. What else could it be? Your exquisite loveliness attracted the attention of the hardened bikshu; it also captivated Maamallan’s innocent heart. You, however, chose to honour Maamallan with your love – and that is the reason for the bikshu’s hatred. Even as you and Maamallan sat talking on this boulder last night, the monk stayed concealed behind it, aiming this dagger. He followed you as you walked back to the temple in Mandapapattu. It was God’s boundless grace and Gundodharan’s extreme watchfulness that prevented Maamallan from becoming a corpse, that night –”

“Gundodharan? How was it that he saved Maamallar, Sire?”

“It was he who followed the bikshu, as the monk followed you, my dear. When Naganandhi climbed over the temple’s madhil, this poisoned dagger fell out of his grasp. Gundodharan took and it, locked the bikshu within the madaippalli of the temple, returned to us and reported the events. But when we unlocked the door of the madaippalli, the bikshu was gone.”

Sivakami’s expressive face underwent a myriad of lightning-quick changes, at the above recital – a fact that the Emperor did not fail to notice.

In truth, the moment Naganandhi was mentioned, her mind had flown back to the bikshu inside the monastery; half her attention was still on him. Her thoughts kept flashing back to the half-hidden figure behind a pillar in the room. Would he still be there? If he was – she would grab the dagger from the Emperor this very moment, and run it through his treacherous heart with her own hands! “Pallavendra, where is my father?” she asked, haste colouring her words. “I must return to the maddam at once!”

“Amma, you haven’t listened to my request yet. You haven’t granted me the boon I crave.”

“Why torment me with such words, Sire? You have every right to command this poor sculptor’s daughter.”

“Never that, my dear. I can never ask you anything except as a request. And that, not for my sake, but for that of the Pallava Empire. You and you alone, possess the power of saving this entire realm, at the moment.”

“I? But what must I do?”

“Write an olai to Maamallan.”

Sivakami looked at him, terrified. “What kind of an olai?”

“That you release Maamallan from your heart, and from his obligations to you. That you wish him to forget you.”

“Sire, why do you subject me to such terrible pain? I, to release Maamallar? How can I even write such a thing? And if I did accept, my hands would never betray me so!”

“Sivakami, Vathapi’s forces have arrived to within three kaathams of Kanchi – yet here I am, in this forsaken village, begging and pleading with you. Surely you realize how important my mission is, now? Very well, my girl – since you obviously do not, I shall make matters as plain as I can. Listen! As of now, the Pallava Empire does not possess man-power enough to battle Vathapi’s enormous forces. As if that were not enough, we have the Pandiya armies advancing upon us, from the south. They would join forces with us in a moment – if only you relented just a little, and granted me my boon. Should the Pandiyas join us, defeating Vathapi would be child’s play. Now, do you understand? Will you lend the Pallava Empire this enormous aid, Sivakami?”

“What do I have to do with the Pandiya invasion, Sire? What kind of aid can a simple sculptor’s daughter render this great Empire?”

“I did not wish to inflict any more pain upon you – but it looks like you will just not let things be. Sivakami, the Pandiyas sent messages, wishing for closer relations with us – in other words, they desired to give their princess in marriage to Maamallan. The Crown Prince did not accept their offer – which is why they have chosen to march upon us. All that is required is to accept their offer of marriage; the Pandiya army will swell our ranks at once. Grant Maamallan his freedom, Sivakami – and I shall persuade him to accept the Pandiya princess’s hand. Well, my daughter?” The Emperor cajoled, his voice clearly pleading. “Will you breathe life into this faltering Empire, Amma?”

“No, no, not on my life!” Abruptly, Sivakami crumpled to the ground. “I cannot!” she screamed. “Pallavendra, kindly do me a favour – plunge that dagger into my heart, and your troubles will be at an end,” she sobbed. “Your son will gain his freedom, and the Empire will be saved. What does a poor girl’s life matter, when an Empire is at stake? Do it, Sire – or if you cannot gather your courage, give it to me. I shall plunge it into my heart myself!”

“Sivakami …” the Emperor sighed. “You have won. I am defeated.”

***

A naazhigai after the above-mentioned conversation by the boulders, Sivakami and Aayanar returned to Mandapapattu. Sivakami’s haste increased as they neared the monastery, and she was the first to hurry into the maddam. The bikshu was nowhere to be seen, in the back-room. In fact, he did not appear to be anywhere within the monastery at all.

A vague suspicion entered Sivakami’s heart; she hastened to her elaborately carved box, opened it, and rifled through her trinkets and ornaments. She felt the corners of the box with her hands, and shook all her dresses out.

It was no use. No matter how hard she searched, no trace of the Emperor’s much prized lion insignia could be found.

***

Almost at that precise moment, the bikshu Naganandhi stood on the opposite banks of the Varaha River, confronting Kannabiraan with the lion insignia. Kannabiraan should take him up in the chariot, the bikshu argued, and escort him to Kanchi.

A little further away, the Emperor and the Sathrugnan stood in concealment, behind a few strategically placed trees. They watched Kannabiraan, obviously unwilling, sign to the bhikshu to get in to the chariot. Even as Sathrugnan sprang forward to stay the charioteer, the Emperor’s strong fingers clamped around his fist, clearly forbidding him.

They watched without a word, as the bikshu settled himself within the chariot, the accompanying soldiers prepared to follow him. Kannabiraan set his horses trotting forward, loathing writ large, on his face.

Sathrugnan’s face burned with barely concealed fury.

As for the Emperor? A knowing smile graced his distinguished features.

Glossary:

Vichithra Siddhar: Denotes a multi-faceted personality; in this instance, Emperor Mahendra Pallavar, who had a swift mind, multiple talents, and expertise in different fields of art and literature.

Viswamitra and Menakai: Known for the extremely powerful Gayathri Mantra, Viswamitra is said to be among the most revered of sages in India. As much as he was venerated for his great powers, he was known for his explosive anger as well – and for his brief tryst with the celestial Menakai, one of the four lovely dancers who adorned Indra’s heavenly abode. Legend goes that she flaunted her considerable beauty to the sage; her intentions were to destroy his incredible penances, on Indra’s orders. True to her tactics, the sage was overwhelmed by her seduction; together they had a child, Shakuntala, who was unfortunately abandoned, when Viswamitra realized the enormity of his actions. Menakai having to leave for the heavens. Shakuntala was left to the tender mercies of the sage Kanva, who raised her as his own. Her story forms part of the Adi Parva of the Mahabharata.