The next morning the Sun God was rising and illuminating the world. The red rays of the sun fell on the golden urns of the Pazhaiyarai palaces and made them glow. A huge elephant decorated with howdah came and stood in front of Kundavai's palace. Kundavai and Vanathi came out of the palace and climbed the steps and mounted the elephant. The elephant earth shook its head towards Paranthaka Cholar Adura Salai in the middle of the army houses. The elephant-keeper walked beside it and slowed its pace and led it away. Hearing the sound of the elephant bell, the people of the city rushed out of their houses. When they saw the two ladies, they stood with folded hands and smiled.
Passing through other streets, the elephant reached the part of the town where the army houses were. The appearance of the streets was peculiar. The fat cockcocks went looking for each other to fight. The rams with curved horns were looking here and there as if to say, "Is there anyone coming to battle?" Furry hounds were fastened to the pillars of the house with leather straps and bell cords. Small children were playing silambam with each other with bamboo sticks in their hands. When the Silambam sticks clashed, there was a sound of 'Sadasada, Padapada'.
The verandahs of the houses were painted with saffron blocks. Mostly they depicted the pastimes of Lord Muruga and the lives of the Chola kings. The scene of Lord Muruga cutting off the heads of Surapadmasura to sprout and the scene of Durga Parameshwari killing Mahishasura were written in a horrific manner. The marvellous deeds of the Chola soldiers in the battlefields of Thellar, Thanjavur, Kudamukku, Arisilaru, Tirupurampayam, Vellur, Thakkolam and Sevur were vividly displayed on the walls of the porch.
The arrival of the elephant in which the princesses rode through the streets of this army became a great mess. The cocks fluttered their wings, sat down on the roof and crowed. The children ran screaming at each other. They knocked at their doors and told the people inside.
When the elephant passed through the streets of the army's house, women, children and elders stood at every door of the house and shouted, "Long live the junior stateswoman Kundavai Devi!" "Long live Sundara Cholar's wealthy daughter!" they wished and rejoiced. Some of them even started following the elephant. The crowd grew larger and larger. They expressed their happiness by various congratulatory sounds.
We have already mentioned that the wives and children of soldiers who had gone to Sri Lanka to fight and their parents lived in these barracks. Kundavai had established a hospital for their welfare with the income from her own land grants. The Cola dynasty had a special tradition of venerating their ancestors. Among Kundavai's ancestors, her grandfather's father, Emperor Paranthaka I is the most famous. Kundavai Devi established and ran this 'Paranthakar Adhurasala' to make his name known. She used to inquire after the welfare of the families of the soldiers, from her frequent visits to the hospital.
The elephant stopped when they reached the road. He lay down on the ground, folding his front legs first and then his hind legs. The two queens descended from the elephant to the earth.
When the elephant moved a little, a crowd of people, mainly women and children, surrounded the goddesses.
"Isn't the road useful to all of you? Don't doctors come every day and give medicines to the needy?" asked the princess.
"Yes, Madam! Yes!" several voices answered.
"I was suffering from cough for three months. I was cured after taking medicine from a doctor for a week!" said a woman.
"Mother! My son climbed a tree and fell and broke his leg. The doctor bandaged it and gave him medicine for fifteen days. It's fine. Now he is jumping and playing. He has started climbing the tree again!" said another woman.
"My mother had been having blurred eyes for some time. She came to this hospital for a month and brought medicine. Now she has a good eye!" said a young woman.
"See, Vanathi! What kind of ancestors lived in our Tamilnadu? I don't know how they figured out which herb can cure any disease!" said Kundavai Pratti.
"They must have discovered such wonderful medicines with the eye of wisdom. How else can I?" said Vanathi.
"It is true that they have discovered many wonderful medicines. But you haven't found a cure for people like you who suffer from mental illness. What to do?"
"Sister! I don't have a mental illness. Please don't say that so often! My friends are constantly mocking me and taking my life!"
"Good luck to you! Haven't you made my brother, who lived in the world careless, go mad? Every time a person comes from Ilankai, he sends me asking how your body is!" said the junior stateswoman.
"Make way for the doctor! Make way for the doctor!" shouted the police. The elderly head physician of the hospital came and entertained the princesses.
"Doctor! Didn't you say that there are some superior herbs in the forests near Kodikarai? Didnt I send a young soldier to go there? Has he come?" asked Kundavai.
"Yes, Madam! The hot young boy came. Eesana Sivapattar came with him. I will send one of my sons with him. My son will come back from Kodikarai. The soldier you sent says that he is going to the island of Ilankai also....."
"Should we bring herbs from Ilankai too?" asked Vanathi.
"Yes, Madam! When Hanuman brought the Sanjeevi Parvatham to save the life of Lakshmana, he crossed the sea through Kodikarai. At that time, some herbs from Sanjeevi Malai fell in Kodikarai forest and that is why good herbs are available there even today. Since there was a Sanjeevi mountain in Ilankai, wouldn't there be more rare herbs there? If I get the herbs I am looking for, I will surely cure the emperor's illness.....
"By the grace of God, so be it. Where are those two young men now?"
"They're in, Mom! They are waiting to say goodbye to you and leave, ready for their journey!"
The two princesses went into the hospital with the head doctor taking them. They walked down the corridors, looking at the people who had come to buy medicine and those who were waiting for it. When they all saw Kundavai Pratti, they were happy and congratulated the princess for providing them with such a good hospital.
Two men were waiting in the head doctor's room. The junior queen smiled when she saw our Vandhiyathevan dressed in a new way. Vanathi also recognized the soldier somehow. He whispered in Kundavai's ear, "Sister! It looks like the one I saw in Kudanthai astrologer's house!"
"I feel the same way about him. After seeing the astrologer, he has come to the doctor. Like you, he too seems to have some mental disorder!" and looking at Vandhiyathevan, he said, "Why sir! Are you the one who agreed to go to Ilankai to fetch herbs for the emperor's health?"
Vandhiyathevan's eyes and eyelids spoke in some other secret language. With his mouth he said, "Yes, princess! I am going to Ilankai. Perhaps I shall see the prince there. Do you have any news for him?"
"If you see it, you will definitely tell me this news. Kodumbalur princess Vanathi is not feeling well. She often faints and faints. If you want to see the princess consciously, you should inform her that you should leave immediately," said the junior stateswoman.
"I will tell you so, madam!" said Vandhiyathevan and looked at Vanathi.
Vanathi's sweet face became even more beautiful because of the blush she felt when she heard Kundavai's words. Overcoming the shyness and shyness, Vanathi stammered and said, "Sir! You don't have to say anything like that. I request you very much. Kodumbalur Vaanathi, please let the junior stateswoman know that she is well and eating and dressing four times a day."
"I will tell you so, madam!" said Vandhiyathevan.
"It's beautiful! You said, 'I'll tell you what I said.' Do you agree with what she said, 'I will say it as well'? Can either of the two be true?"
"So what, madam! I will simply state what the plaintiff has said and what the defendant has said. Let the prince be the judge and decide what is true and what is not!" said Vandhiyathevan.
"But don't just distort what one said to another! You have merit!" said Vaanathi.
Kundavai wanted to stop this conversation and said, "Doctor! Did you get a letter from the palace official to send to them?"
"Got it, Mother!" Since they are going to bring herbs for the emperor's treatment, all the government officials on the way should help them as requested.' I have given it to them!" said the doctor.
"Then why the delay? Shouldn't we leave immediately?" said the junior stateswoman Kundavai.
"Yes; We have to leave!" said Vandhiyathevan.
But it was not easy to leave at once.
They came out of the hospital. The howdah elephant was waiting to carry the royal princesses. Two of the palace horses stood agitating to take Vandhiyathevan and his companion and fly away like the wind.
But Vandhiyathevan was suddenly having a doubt. Something new was emerging for Kundavai to warn him anew. Kundavai warned them mainly about the dangers they might face on the way.
The princesses mounted the howdah. Then Vandhiyathevan and his companion mounted the horses.
The elephant did not appear to be leaving. Kundavai hinted that those who are going to travel long distances should leave first.
Vandhiyathevan reluctantly turned his horse reluctantly. Once more he looked back at the princess with eager eyes. Then, as if angry with the horse, he struck a slap. The rosy horse flew away at a four-legged gallop. The doctors son had to struggle to follow him.
After the elephant started to go back, Kundavai got lost in thought. What strange nature is this mind? Why is this mind, which has rejected kings and heroic warriors, so interested in this young man who came as a wayfarer? Why is he so anxious that he should successfully complete his mission and return safely?.....
"Sister! What are you thinking?" said Vanathi's voice that brought Kundavai into this world.
"Nothing, Vanathi! I was thinking about the young mans arrogant nature. Now I wonder why I sent him a message to my brother....
"Yes, Sister! He is so wicked! A great bandit....
"What's that? Why do you say bandit?"
"Ordinary robbers will loot gold, silver and other worthless things. I am afraid that this young man will rob the family deity of Chola Nadu. You won't allow that, will you?" said Vanathi.
"Hit me! Do you think of me as you do? Such things will never happen!" said Kundavai.
When the elephant had gone a short distance back, the queens saw a crowd of women gathered in a place on the road. Do you have anything to say?" asked the junior stateswoman Kundavai.
One of the women came forward and said, "Mother! There is no news about our husbands in Ilankai! Didn't the people of Thanjavur forbid them to send rice from here? Mother, how can they fight without food for their stomachs?"
"You don't have to worry about that. The grain they need is going from Mamallapuram port. No matter what the people of Thanjavur do, will your prince just let go? Will he be watching the great warriors of Chola Nadu starve!" said the junior stateswoman.
If there had been any other opportunity, Kundavai would have gone down there and consoled the women further. The elephant went towards the palace.