Laughter And Hatred

Vandiya Devan made up his mind as soon as he heard the
words `Right to the empire' uttered by Lord Pazluvoor.
What are these men going to say about the rights to
succession? Who are they to discuss it? I must definitely
find out what is happening here. I better sit right here;
there cannot be a more convenient hiding spot. Let the
Nambi go do what he wants. Why should I bother about
him?
Vandiya Devan had surmised earlier that something
mysterious was taking place in that palace. The cryptic
words of Azlvar-adiyan, the arrogant behavior of the gatekeepers,
the frightening words of the frenzied soothsayer --
all these had raised several doubts. Here was an
opportunity to clear all those apprehensions! Why not
utilize the heaven sent chance?
Well! Even Kandamaran, who I considered a dear friend,
has not told the truth. He sent me to bed and has come to
this secret midnight-meeting. I must not let him off easily
tomorrow!
By now, Lord Pazluvoor had started talking. Vandiya
Devan listened carefully. "I am here to announce a very
grave news to you all. That is why Sambuvaraya has convened this meeting. Right now, the health of Emperor
Sundara Chozla, is cause for great concern. I have secretly
asked the palace Doctors: they have said `There is not
much hope now. He is not likely to live much longer.'
Therefore, we have to decide upon the next course of
action." So said Lord Pazluvoor.
"What have the astrologers said?" asked one of the men.
Another replied "Why ask the astrologers? Hasn't the longtailed
comet been appearing in the evening skies for
several days? Is that not enough?"
Lord Pazluvoor replied to this: "We have consulted the
astrologers also. They postpone the time a little. That is all.
Anyway, we have to now think about who is eligible to
succeed to the throne ..."
"What is left to think about now? Was not Aditya
Karikala coronated as the Crown Prince two years ago
itself?" declared a hoarse voice.
"True. But I would like to know if any one of us was
consulted before the coronation took place. Each one of us
gathered here belongs to well established clans that have
strived for more than a hundred years, for more than four
generations, to acquire the eminence of this Chozla
Empire. My great-grandfather died in the battle of Thirupuram-
biyam. My grandfather lost his life during the war
in Vellur. My father sacrificed his life at Takkolam. In a
similar fashion, ancestors to each of you have given their
lives to establish the greatness of this Chozla Empire.
Young men from our families have died in the battlefield.
Even today, sons from our family and clan are engaged in
warfare in Lanka. But the Emperor did not consult our
opinion for the decision about a successor to the throne.
Even Emperor Dasaratha of the Epic convened an
assembly of his advisors before deciding to crown Lord
Rama as the Crown Prince; he consulted his ministers,
advisors, army commanders and chieftains under him.
But, our Sundara Chozla did not consider it necessary to
consult anyone ..."
"It is correct to say that he did not consult any of us.
However, it is not accurate when the Lord of Taxes says
that the emperor did not consult anyone! The opinions of
the Elder Pirati Sembiyan Madevi and that of the Younger
Pirati Kundavai Devi were asked for. Can Lord Pazluvoor
deny this?" When a member asked this in a mocking
voice, some others of the group laughed.
"Well! You all laugh! I do not know how you can think of
laughter. My very heart burns when I think of it; my blood
boils. I wonder why I should safeguard my life and live
without any sense of shame. The soothsayer who danced in
frenzy said that the Goddess is asking for a sacrifice. He
asked for a human sacrifice; of a prince from a thousandyear
old dynasty. Give me up as the sacrifice. My family is
more ancient than a thousand years. With a blow across
my throat, each of you with your swords offer me as the sacrifice. The Mother Goddess will be satisfied; my soul
will be satisfied."
Lord Pazluvoor spoke the above words with as much rage
as the frenzied soothsaying-dancer.
Silence prevailed for a short while. The whistling of the
western breeze and the whispering of the trees near the
wall were the only sounds.
"I beg for the patience and forgiveness of the Pazluvoor
King for having uttered some words in ignorance and the
thoughtless laughter that followed. You are our leader
without any equal. We here, are all ready to carry out any
of your commands. We will walk in the path you direct us.
Please grant forgiveness," spoke an emotional
Sambuvaraya.
"I too lost my composure. You should forgive me. Think
of one thing. Two hundred years before today, Vijayala
Chozla broke the power of the Muthuaraya kings and
captured Tanjore. During the battle of Thiru-puram-biyam,
he helped the Pallava army and destroyed the legions of
Madurai Pandiya. From that moment, the Chozla Kingdom
has been growing and expanding day-by-day. The Chozla's
had not acquired this greatness even during the times of
historic Karikala Valava who built the embankments for
the Cauvery. Today, the empire spreads from Cape
Comorin in the south to the Thungabadra-Krishna rivers in
the north. The Pandiya Kingdom, Nanjil Kingdom, the
Chera Kingdom which has not been subjugated by anyone
so far, Thondai Territories, Paagi, Gangapadi, Nulampadi,
Vaithumba Territories, the Chitpuli nation, Bana lands,
Kudagu Hill Territories where river Ponni rises, -- all these
lands are now under Chozla control and are paying tribute.
The Chozla tiger-flag flies in all these countries. By now,
even Lanka in the south as well as Vengi and Rashtrakuta
in the north should have come under our sway. I do not
have to give you the reasons for them not being
vanquished; you know the reasons ...."
Lord Mazluvoor intervened: "Yes. All of us know the
reason. There are two reasons for Lanka, Vengi, Kalinga
and Rashtrakuta not coming under our suzerainty. One
cause is the Northern Commander-in-Chief, Prince Aditya
Karikala; the other is the Commander of the Southern
Armies, Arulmozli Varma."
"I agree with the reasons given by Lord Mazluvoor. For
the last hundred years the practice for appointing a
commander in the Chozla Kingdom was different. Brave
warriors, with the experience of several campaigns would
be selected as Generals of the army and as Commandersin-
Chief. But what has happened today? The elder Prince
is a commander for the northern armies. What is he doing?
He is not planning campaigns against the twin territories of
the Rashtrakutas or against Vengi (modern Eluru of
Andhra) in the northeast. He sits in Kanchi, building a
Golden Palace! I ask you, the bravest warriors born in the
best of clans: till now, has any king in the Tamil Nation built a Golden Palace for his own dwelling? Even the
most famous Emperor Paranthaka, who conquered
Madurai and Lanka and is now in his heavenly abode, did
not build himself a Golden Palace. He merely covered the
roof of the temple in Chidambaram with gold. But Prince
Aditya Karikala builds himself a Golden Palace in Kanchi,
for his residence! Apparently, the huge palaces from
which great Pallava monarchs ruled their empires for
several generations, are not adequate for the prestige of our
Prince! He builds a Golden Palace! He embeds rubies and
diamonds in the walls of that palace. Not a copper coin
from all the treasures captured from our campaigns in the
Gangapadi, Nulampadi and Kudagu Territories has he sent
back to the treasury in the capital till now."
"Has the construction of this Golden Palace been
completed?"
"Yes. My spies tell me that it has been completed. In
addition letters arrived for the Emperor from his beloved
elder son! He wants the Emperor to come and stay for a
while, in that newly constructed Golden Palace."
"Is the Emperor going to Kanchi?" asked another alarmed
voice.
"You need not have any concern about that. I am there to
take care that nothing like that will take place; my brother,
the Commander of Tanjore is also there. None can enter
the fort of Tanjore without the consent of the Younger
Lord Pazluvoor. None can interview the Emperor without
my knowledge; nor can they give letters. Twice or maybe
thrice, I have stopped letters that arrived for him."
"Long life to Lord Pazluvoor! Hail the Chanakian political
astuteness of the Pazluvoor king! Long life to his bravery!"
such shouts arose.
"Please listen a little longer! Much more than the deeds of
the Crown Prince, the activities of Prince Arulmozli
Varma who has gone to Lanka are peculiar. What do we
know of the rules of warfare? For generations and over
several hundreds of years, what policy have our ancestors
followed? If our armies invade enemy territories, the food
supplies and payments for our armies have to be procured
from those enemy lands. The wealth to pay our army must
be captured in those enemy regions. Excess treasures
should be sent back to the government treasury in the
capital city ... But, do you know what Prince Arulmozli is
doing? He wants food supplies to be sent from here, by
ships, to feed our soldiers in Lanka! For the last one year,
ten times, I have sent such shiploads of supplies."
"Most unusual and peculiar! We cannot tolerate such
illegalities! Never heard of such behavior!" rose several
voices.
"Listen to the reasoning of Prince Arulmozli for this
peculiar behavior. If we try to procure supplies for our
armies from the territories we invade, we would cause a lot of inconvenience to the civilians and gain the displeasure
of the farmers in that land. Our dispute is with the royalty
of Lanka; not with Lankan populace. Therefore we should
not harass them in any way. After winning our battles
against their royalty, we should rule with the full approval
of those people. Therefore, the food and monies must be
sent from the homeland."
Someone from the meeting intervened by saying, "We
should not demand anything from the nations we have
conquered! We should fall at their feet and worship their
people! I have never heard of such conduct in warfare."
"Ask me about the consequences of such activities!
Because of these undertakings of both the Princes, the
treasury and granary in the royal palace at Tanjore often
become empty! I am compelled to levy more taxes on you
and also collect tributes from all of you. Perhaps that is
why the Chozlas have appointed me as their Tax Official.
If I had not considered the welfare of this country as most
important, I would have given up my positions long ago!"
"Oh no! Never! Your holding these positions gives us
several assurances. Why have you not spoken about these
things to the Emperor?"
"Why not? I have personally spoken to him about it several
times. Every time I am put aside with words like, `Ask the
Elder Pirati. Ask the Younger Pirati.' Remember I told you
earlier, the Emperor has lost the capability of thinking for
himself. Neither does he ask our opinion on important
matters. The words of his elder aunt, the Elder Pirati
Sembiyan Madevi, are gospel to him; after that he wants
me to consult with his beloved daughter the Younger Pirati
Kundavai. I, who have grown grey in the service of this
nation, I, along with other ministers, have to go and stand
in the presence of that slip of a girl -- a girl who has not
crossed the River Kollidam in the north or River
Kudamuruti in the south -- and then consult her opinion.
How is this story? From the days of this Chozla Kingdom
being established, I have never heard of such interference
from women in the politics of the nation. How long can I
tolerate such humiliation? If all of you unanimously agree,
I shall give up my official positions which trouble me to
levy taxes and fill the treasury, and go back to my own
city."
"No! Never. Lord Pazluvoor should not forsake us like
that. The Chozla Empire has been established with the aid
of thousands of brave men shedding their blood over four
generations; such a nation will be torn apart in confusion
within a short time if he does that," said Lord
Sambuvaraya.
"Well then, you should all give me your ideas about what
to do in this situation. What is the solution to this women's
rule which is worse than the power of the amazonian
Queen Alli?" asked Lord Pazluvoor.