Chapter 20: Friends in the Moonlight
The banks of the North Pennai River presented a wondrous sight in the night when the full moon floating in the firmament showered its milky white glow, transforming this world into a dream world. The previous night one could hear the sonorous sound of water flowing; that vast river shone like liquid silver. The entire region was tranquil. One would admire that scenic sight and wonder if such joy may be experienced only in heaven.
But that night, chaos prevailed on the banks of the North Pennai River. Innumerable elephants, horses, chariots and carts were crossing that river. The golden ornaments adorning the elephants, the silver trimmings fitted to their tusks, the various jewels that embellished the naturally statuesque horses and the chariots’ canopies plated with gold shone in the moonlight. When several rows of elephants and horses occupied the entire river and crossed the water at the same time, the resultant din was akin to the lashing of waves in an ocean when cyclonic winds blew.
On one bank, the camp housing the infantry extended up to the horizon. The glimmer of the sharp spears the warriors held blinded one’s eyes. The fluttering noise of the thousands of Rishabha flags hoisted in that army camp was heard. On the opposite bank, close to the river pier a solitary tent was pitched. Four people seated on the ornate carpet spread on the grass that grew by the tent were conversing. Ten to twelve warriors armed with sharp spears and swords fastened to their waists were alertly standing guard at a short distance away from the four people, who were Mamalla Chakravarthy, Commander Paranjyothi, the King of Vengi – Aditya Varman and the Chief of the Spies – Shatrugnan.
The King of Vengi, Aditya Varman, was Mamallar’s cousin i.e. a progeny of Simha Vishnu Maharaja’s brother. That clan ruled the region to the north of the Godavari River as an independent vassal of the Pallavas. When the Chalukya Emperor invaded Kanchi, his brother Vishnuvardhanan impeded Aditya Varman from coming to the aid of the Pallava Chakravarthy. Vishnuvardhanan decimated Vengi’s ruling dynasty and ascended the throne. But Vishnuvardhnan breathe his last before Pulikesi returned to Vatapi from his southern expedition. The person responsible for cutting short Vishnuvardhanan’s reign and life was Aditya Varman. But, a few years later when Pulikesi invaded Vengi leading a large army, Adity Varman retreated to the south with whatever was left of his army and was waiting for the opportune time. When Mamallar invaded Vatapi with a gargantuan army, Aditya Varman joined hands with him.
Commander Paranjyothi was relating in detail how he was stunned when he saw the massive Vatapi army at the banks of this very North Pennai River and how a disguised Mahendra Pallavar had pursued and rescued him from under the very nose of Pulikesi. The other three were listening to him with wonder. Aditya Varman was the most surprised amongst the three. All this information was new to him. He regretfully said, “Ah! I was not fortunate to meet that Vichitra Siddhar!”
Then Mamallar said, “The Prince of Lanka also rues thus. I’m not bragging because he is my father. One must be fortunate to even see him. One must have committed good deeds for several births to move closely with him. He took me along and traveled across the southern country for three years. On moonlit nights like this, the two of us used to spend time joyfully, sitting alfresco. Whenever he used to embark on a journey, he used to bring his Parivadhini veenai[i] along. Whenever he played the veenai, it seemed as though the sky and the earth came to a standstill and listened to his music. The wind too would cease blowing scared to interrupt the divine music. Leaves would not rustle. Birds would not chirp.” “Anna, please stop! If you speak thus, I will lose my resolve. I feel that war and bloodshed are futile and that I would prefer to play the veenai and live my life joyfully!” said Aditya Varman. Mamallar laughed heartily and said, “Once upon a time, Mahendra Varmar too uttered such words. He said that if kings lost their lust for land, the earth will be heavenly. He said that wars were futile. No one should produce weapons like spears and swords. My father often used to say that the ironsmith’s furnaces should be used to mould ploughs used by farmers and chisels used by sculptors. But he changed his mind completely the day he heard the news of the Chalukyas’ impending invasion. The youth who had flung a spear at a mad elephant captivated him more than a thousand sculptors and sixteen thousand workmen…!” Speaking thus, Mamallar smiled at Paranjyothi.
“Aren’t you referring to the incident that had occurred on the day Commander Paranjyothi arrived at Kanchi? I wanted to ask him about it one day,” said Aditya Varman. “No one managed to win my father’s confidence as much as Paranjyothi did. There were times I felt envious of him. I have even suspected on a few occasions that my father may overlook me and coronate our commander. But I was prepared for that too. Even today, if our commander consents…” When Mamallar was speaking in this manner, Commander Paranjyothi interjected.
“Prabhu! Please do not speak in this manner. I do not aspire to rule a kingdom or ascend the throne. I was born in a poor family in a village. I came to Kanchi, promising my mother that I would return after educating myself. Twelve years have passed; I haven’t fulfilled my word yet. I continue to be illiterate. As soon as this war is over, I will fulfill the promise I had made to my mother. If you feel impelled to abdicate the throne in favour of someone else, you may coronate the Prince of Lanka who is waiting to rule a kingdom!” Mamallar immediately gestured with his eyes to Aditya Varman and Sharugnan, both of whom smiled knowingly.
Mamallar’s immense affection for Manavanman pricked Paranjyothi constantly. Mamallar well understood the situation. This was the primary reason for his prohibiting Manavanman from participating in the Vatapi War. His gesture to the other two seemed to convey, “Didn’t I say so?” He then told Paranjyothi who sat with his head lowered, “Well said! Are you asking me to hand over the kingdom that was once ruled by Mahendra Pallavar to that fool? Despite my asking him not to come in no uncertain terms, he is coming. I am wondering what punishment I should accord him. I’m extremely furious with him. I feel like chasing him back to Lanka. Commander, what’s your opinion?”
The commander thought for some time and said, “Why do you want to stop someone who’s raring to come to the battlefield? Manavanmar’s arrival will be beneficial; it will be good if he leads our elephant force. “I somehow am not in favour of this. Manavanman has come seeking our assistance and has sought refuge in us. Wouldn’t it appear as though we won because of his support?…” said Mamallar.
Shatrugnan, who was mostly silent till then, said, “Chakravarthy! Please do not think thus. You don’t require anyone’s help to win this war. Your skill in warfare is unparalleled. You will vanquish Vatapi and return victoriously even in the absence of the Commander and Aditya Varmar. Those who are fortunate to be part of this invasion are blessed. If Manavanmar participates in this expedition, people will never ever attribute your victory to him. It’s an unequivocal fact that he will attain a greater stature because of his participation.”
The commander and Aditya Varman whole heartedly agreed with what Shatrugnan said. “Moreover, Manavanmar has trained our elephant force very conscientiously. It’s not fair to ask him not to come to the battlefield,” said the commander. “I heard that the Prince of Lanka has trained the elephants in an ingenious manner. Please tell me about it,” asked Aditya Varman. “That’s true; previously we used to get the elephants to bang against the fort gates to force open them. During the siege of the Kanchi Fort, the old method did not work thanks to Mahendra Pallavar’s foresight. As the fort gates were fitted with spear tips, the elephants on banging their heads against the fort gates became frenzied and hastily retreated. Now Manavanmar has trained the elephants to force open the fort gates with iron poles, demolish the ramparts with crowbars and to set the interiors of the fort ablaze by flinging illuminated torches.”
“Ah! I have never heard of anyone utilizing the elephant force in this manner till now!” said Aditya Varman. Commander Paranjyothi harboured no personal enimity against Manavanman. Mamallar’s deep affection for him was the reason for his discontentment. So when Mamallar spoke of him disparagingly, Paranjyothi started supporting Manavanman. “That’s why I’m saying it’s not fair to send Manavanman back. Wouldn’t the person who trained the elephant force be desirous of leading that very elephant force to war?” asked Commander Paranjyothi.
As they were speaking, the gigantic banyan that stood in the vicinity shook vigorously. Thousands of birds that had sought refuge for the night in the dense branches of that tree took to flight by flapping their wings and chirped noisily. The birds circled the tree and sought refuge again in its branches. “What happened to that tree suddenly? Did any wild beast climb that tree? Why are the birds shrieking thus?” When Mamallar was speaking, Shatrugnan who was staring in the direction of the tree said, “Prabhu! No wild animal climbed the tree. A domesticated two-legged animal is climbing down the tree!”
When he clapped loudly, one of the soldiers who stood guard a short distance away came running. “Look there! Someone is climbing down that banyan tree. Catch him and produce him here!” commanded Shatrugnan. The soldiers rushed towards the banyan tree, grabbed the man who was climbing down by his hands and dragged him along. The leader of the soldiers bowed and said, “Prabhu! Here’s the Vatapi spy!”
Mamallar and Paranjyothi burst out laughing because the person whom the soldiers had produced was none other than our old friend, Gundodharan. “Gundodhara! What’s this? Why did you call yourself a Vatapi spy?” asked Paranjyothi. “Yes, Commander! I had stated the truth! I meant ‘the spy who has been to Vatapi’ when I said ‘Vatapi spy’. Immediately the soldiers grabbed me and dragged me along. My body still aches at the places where they held me!” he said. “Fine. But what were you doing atop the tree? How long were you sitting there?” asked the Chakravarthy.
“Prabhu! I reached here last night itself. When I woke up this morning, I saw our army approaching. I immediately climbed the tree. All this time I have been counting the number of warriors in our army and thinking whether this army is adequate to defeat Pulikesi of Vatapi.” “What conclusion did you reach? Is this army sufficient?” asked the Chakravarthy. “Swami! I have no doubts about this. But Emperor Pulikesi, who has headed to the Ajantha Caves, should return before we reach Vatapi! I am worried about the proposed course of action if he is outside the fort!” said Gundodharan.
[i] Parivadhini Veenai – A string instrument
