In the land of Tamil, where bards were the seeds of fame that deserved to be sung as a heroic tale, the bards were embraced and supported by the tribal chiefs and petty kings. The bards tirelessly sang of their power and generosity. The unwavering voice of these impoverished artists echoed throughout the Tamil land.
At that time, Rajavendhan was the ruler of Paramba, the land of the generous. His rule, power, and generosity spread far and wide. Bards in every land sang of Rajavendhan's deeds. Even in the desolate wilderness, where there was none to quench their hunger, they danced with anklets and drums, singing of Rajavendhan, forgetting their hunger. They would return to their villages and recount their tales. Rajavendhan, who became the voice of the hungry, filled every land. But what truly elevated his fame was the legend of his gift of a chariot to the creeper. Every listener's heart felt a sprout of hope. Whether true or false, people believed this story was essential for their children, their families, their society, and their king.
Before harvesting the ripened rice, people would send the king's warriors with a sharp sword to collect taxes, along with a creeper as a tribute, as was the custom in neighboring lands.
Groups of bards roamed throughout the Tamil land. They visited Paramba once and returned. While they received gifts from all kings, it was from Rajavendhan that they received compassion. His compassion was inexhaustible and lingered in their memories.
Rajavendhan's song was not just a song of memory for the bards, but a song they sang even when they forgot their memories. A guard in the Nalankadi of Puhar city saw a group of wandering bards and asked, "Does Rajavendhan rule Paramba, or does he rule the bards?"
Pattinappakkam, the abode of the Chola king and the nobles, was very close to Nalankadi. The guard's question quickly reached Pattinappakkam. Soon, the question echoed in the palaces of the three kings. This question carried an answer within itself, which disturbed the sleep of the three kings.
Rajavendhan's fame transcended even the great emperors, the three kings. They could do nothing to him. The reason was Rajavendhan's valor, the geographical features of Paramba, and his military strength. Yet, they waited for an opportunity.
It was at this time that Arjunan, by chance, arrived at the palace of Velmurugan, the petty king of Aruga.
"Arjunan, one of the greatest poets of the ancient Tamil land, was a poet who, like others, was responsible for entering the royal court, advising the king, preventing war, and conducting necessary attacks. They wandered all over the land. Dried fish from the seashore and yogurt from the shepherd's household added flavor to their songs. The raw meat of the barren land and the sour toddy of the Kurinji land made Tamil poetry flourish.
Arjunan never went to Parampu Nadu and never met Rajavendhan .But when the bards sang about Rajavendhan again and again, he was more suspicious than surprised. Mistakes abound in a place praised by all. Fame has the power to corrupt anyone's attention. It has never met those who are not subservient to it. So, Arjunan naturally developed a bitterness towards something established by fame.
Arjunan, who was on his way to see the king of the central region, decided to take a short break due to fatigue from the journey. He ordered the chariot to be driven towards Velmurugan's palace on the banks of the Valiyar River. Velmurugan, who had watched the bards' dance all day, was overjoyed when Arjunan suddenly arrived in the evening.
The night began with toddy flowing from a green bottle. As soon as he started drinking the toddy, Arjunan realized that its sour taste was slightly different. "What kind of toddy is this?" he asked.
"It is ripe toddy made from honey, put in a bamboo pipe and fermented well. We call it 'Theangal'. Poets like you will call it 'Therel'," replied Velmurugan. At that time, a warrior brought a pot full of meat pieces to eat and left. Velmurugan tried to push the pot towards Arjunan to make it easy for hi