In the middle of the forest, about 1000 Chola soldiers had made a row of trees around a dry pond that had formed a gap. Huge flakes of rice were pouring over the flames that had been blazing in large stone ovens for their meal. Pots and pans were simmering. The fragrance emanating from them made the soldiers water. They danced and sang to pass the time until the rice was over. At this moment their beloved prince also arrived, and the joy of the warriors became immeasurable. The commander of the border guard took great pains to restore order among them. He made everyone sit quietly in a row in a circle shaped like a half-madi.
They had cut down a huge giant tree and left its trunk a little above the ground. The prince came and sat on the throne of the trunk. He was no longer dressed like an elephant keeper. He was seated with a golden crown on his head, rings of mouth in his arms and pearl garlands on his chest and a silk Peetambaram at his waist. Around him sat the border commander, Vandhiyathevan and Azhvarkadiyan.
The Yelela Singhan Charithirakoothu, which had been arranged to please the prince, began. Just as the Chola soldiers had conquered a large part of Sri Lanka at this time, the Tamil soldiers had conquered Eelanadu once a thousand years ago. At that time the leader of those Tamil warriors was Yelela Singhan. Chased by him, the king of Lanka hid in the hill country for some time. His son's name was Thushtagemanu. He is a wicked warrior. For a long time he dreamed of recapturing Lanka from Yelela Singha. One day, when the soldier was a child, he was lying on his bed with his arms and legs folded. His mother said, "Child! Why are you limiting yourself like this? Why don't you stretch your arms and legs freely and lie down?" Thushtagemanu said, "Mother! Tamil soldiers are pressing me on one side. The sea presses on the other side, what shall I do? That is why I am lying down with my body shortened!" When such a warrior attained puberty, the troops he had gathered scattered and fled. Then Thushtagamanu devised a strategy. He went to Yelela Singhan and stood face to face and said, "O king! My small force scattered before your large army. I am the only one left. You were born in the Shuddha Veerar clan. Therefore I invite you to stand alone with me and fight the battle, let this kingdom of Lanka belong to the victorious among us; May the others attain heroic heaven!"
Yelela Singha admired Thushtagemanu's bravery and bravery. So he agreed to fight with him alone. He strictly ordered his soldiers not to interrupt. The war began. Thushtagemanu's soldiers, who had scattered on hearing this news, also returned. Everyone stared blankly. The battle went on for a long time. Thushtagamanu fought furiously to claim his birthright. Yelela Singhan felt sympathy for the young man and did not fight with all his might. So Yelela Singha died. When Thushtagamanu ascended the throne, he erected a pallipadai temple in honour of Yelela Singha at the place where he had died, in honour of his valour and generosity.
The Chola soldiers enacted this rare historical event in the presence of Ilango Arulmozhivarmar. There was dancing and singing. He acted so realistically that the soldier who acted at the spot where Yelela Singhan fell down had really fallen dead. The prince and the other soldiers who were watching often cheered and said, 'Aha'.
Once when the play was going on, the prince looked at Azhvarkadiyan and said, "Thirumalai! Have you seen the immortal painting of the battle between Thushtagemanu and Yelela Singha in the Dambulla cave temple?"
"No, sir! I saw you when we were on the streets of Dambulla. There is no time to enter the cave temple," said Azhvarkadiyan.
"Aha! The sculptures in those cave temples are also a must-see! Tirumalai There are many sculptural paintings in our Senthamizh Nadu. There are greater wonders in this island of Ilankai," said the prince.
"Prince! The sculptures of this country will not go anywhere! You can watch it whenever you want. But isn't that how you look at yourself? Wasn't it because we came at a good time that we could see it? Parthipenthira Pallavan who came here before us was going back saying 'not here' after looking for you. We saw him on the way," said Azhvarkadiyan.
"Yes; Even the commander told me that a dear friend of my brothers had come and looked for him. Can you guess what he came for?"
"Of course I can. Athitha Karikalar has sent him to bring you to Kanji."
"Oh no! You know! Look, your friend brought it so safely and you seem to know what is written in this letter?"
"Your brother has written to you to come to Pazhaiyarai immediately. Prince! When Kundavai Devi privately wrote this letter and gave it to our Varnar tribe warrior, I was watching from hiding in the flag house nearby..."
திருமலைக்குப் பின்னாலிருந்த வந்தியத்தேவன் அவனுடைய முதுகில் அழுத்தமாகக் கிள்ளினான்.
Azhvarkadiyan slapped his back and said, "This is a wicked forest; Beetles bite even at night!"
The prince said angrily, "Cheche! What kind of work is this? Have you begun to show your talent in the name of my dear brother?"
"I saw it and that's why I brought him here so safely. Prince! Lord Buddha himself knows what I went through to save him from getting into trouble on the way. If he had come via Anuradhapura, he would certainly not have reached here. He would have had a fight with someone on the way and died. That's why I took him through the forest. There too, he tried to fight a mad elephant. I killed that mad elephant with my stick and brought him safely to you!"
"Oho! In that case, did you come to Ilankai only to bring him safely to me?"
"No, sir! For my part, I have brought you a message."
"What's that? Tell me quickly!" said the prince.
"Chief Minister Aniruthar has sent word that it is advisable for you to stay in Ilankai for some more time."
"If three seniors send three messages like this, what should I ask?" said Arulmozhivarmar.
At this point Vandhiyathevan interrupted and said, "Prince! Sorry! All you have to listen to is your sister's word!"
"Why do you say that?"
"For their hearts tell them that they should respect the word of their sister. Even if you don't listen to him, I must. The junior stateswoman has instructed me to bring you anyway!" said Vandhiyathevan.
The prince looked Vandhiyathevan up and down and said, "I have been doing penance for a long time to get such a brave comrade!"