Book 02 - Chapter 12: The Queen’s Distress

The sage landed on the dock. Arulmozhi touched his feet and rose, teary-eyed. She asked, “Your holiness, where is my son?” and broke into sobs. Moved, the sage felt goosebumps. Ponnan turned away. The birds perched on the tree flew away, as if they could not bear the sound of the queen’s sobs.

The sage said in a calm voice, “Arulmozhi, what is this? Do you not remember your husband’s wish that you play the role of a brave mother? Can you get disheartened now? Let us go into the palace and talk”. They took the well-groomed path along the mango orchard. The palace, once full of celebrations and music, seemed lifeless now. The attendants and officials in the palace looked dispirited as well.

The sage took a chair covered by tiger skin. The queen sat on the bare floor, facing him.

The sage resumed, “Arulmozhi, please don’t lose heart”. Arulmozhi interrupted him with a sad voice, “Your holiness, I have hardened my heart, but my body seems to have weakened. When I think of my child, my stomach churns, and my body shakes. You gave me your word that you will protect Vikraman. You could not save him at the right time”.

The sage calmly responded, “I promised you that his life would be safe. His life was indeed spared. I gave my word to Vikraman’s father that I would see that his son grows up to be brave and independent. I kept that word too. If you were present at the Pallava court the other day, you would have been proud of your son. Did Sage Thiruvalluvar not say:

“Eenra pozhudir periduvakkum than maganai

Sanron enakketta thai”?

This means - A mother is proud on hearing her son described as exemplary  - prouder than she might have been when she gave birth.

The emperor tried to talk Vikraman into a compromise. He would have been set free and crowned as the Chozha king if he agreed to be a vassal. He was not tempted, nor was he intimidated by the emperor. He challenged the emperor to a swordfight. He said, ‘if you are indeed as brave as they say, defeat me in a duel. We can discuss tribute then!’. His eyes blazed. I was proud of him. Alas, you were not fortunate enough to witness it”.

Arulmozhi was listening to the sage eagerly, but was still teary-eyed. She said, “I am obviously the unfortunate soul here. I lived after losing my husband in the battlefield. I live after my son is banished to some Godforsaken, faraway land. They say the Pallava emperor is visiting Uraiyur. Is that true? If he does, I am going to fall on his feet and beg him to send me to the same faraway land”.

The sage said, “What are you saying Arulmozhi? Are you considering touching the feet of the sworn enemy? If your husband hears this in the heaven of warriors, will he approve?”

“He won’t approve. I should not beg his enemy. You are right. I got carried away by my emotions. He dreamt that the Chozha kingdom would grow from Kumari to the Himalayas. His son is now banned from even setting foot in this great land!”, said Arulmozhi.

“Is that the only dream Parthiban had Arulmozhi? Did he also not want the Chozha kingdom to spread overseas? Remember the desire behind the paintings in the Art Gallery”.

“I did not want his dreams to come true like this. You speak as if he has gone overseas to conquer kingdoms. For all we know, they may have shipped him to a land of barbarians. Who knows what sufferings he is enduring now? Your holiness, why are you trying to keep me in a fool’s paradise?”

“I have no reason to fool you, Arulmozhi. Haven’t people been banished from their kingdom in the epics? Ram was sent to the forests. The Pandavas had to live in the forests. Any suffering that Vikraman endures will toughen him. When he returns ….”

“Oh, no your holiness. He does not need to return. If he sets foot on his motherland, the emperor will surely behead him”.

“But he will feel compelled to return, Arulmozhi. His love for his mother and duty to his motherland will draw him here. In addition to these, there is a third force that will draw him here. You wouldn’t know about it”.

“What do you mean, your holiness?”

“The third force that I mentioned is stronger than his love for mother and motherland. It is the magnetic force of a woman’s eyes. I am an ascetic now, but I know from my earlier life how strong love for a woman can be”.

“I still don’t understand. What does Vikraman have to do with a woman’s love?”

The sage smiled and responded, “All mothers think their sons are children, and are surprised when they encounter reality. Arulmozhi, when your son was chained, and taken to Kanchi, he encountered a woman. She has also lost her heart to Vikraman. I have pieced these together from what I have seen and heard. I also witnessed another surprising episode. When he was shipped off, that girl went to Mamallapuram. She reached just as his boat was pulling away from the docks. Their eyes met and exchanged messages. Vikraman can never forget her eyes. Her face will haunt him when he is awake and asleep. No matter what job he undertakes, no matter where his duties carry him, through his joys and sorrows, he won’t be able to forget her. He will return to just see her”.

Arulmozhi sat stunned, listening to all this. Dismayed, she said in a feeble voice, “All I had left was my son’s love. Now that seems to be in danger as well. Who is that girl, your holiness?”

“Narasimha Varman’s daughter”.

“The enemy’s daughter? I am feeling dizzy!”, said Arulmozhi, and fainted.

Prev

Next

Click here for the audiobook version
Parthban Kanavu: The Tamil version of the novel is in the public domain. Copyright for the translation is reserved by the translator..

Art by Sujatha Anand