Chapter 21: Pulikesi’s Art Enchantment
When Gundodharan said that Pulikesi was not in Vatapi and that he had headed to Ajantha, the four people were both joyous and surprised. They posed a volley of questions to Gundodharan in unison, “Is that true?” “Has he really gone to Ajantha?” “What work could Pulikesi possibly have in Ajantha?” Then Mamallar said, “If all of us pester Gundodharan thus, how will he be able to respond?”
Gundodharan bowed to the Chakravarthy and said, “Pallavendra! I will tell you the news I could ascertain for sure. Emperor Pulikesi has gone to Ajantha. Apparently, a Chinese traveler is visiting. I am unable to pronounce his name; people said that his name was Hiuen Tsang. After visiting Kanyakubhja, Kashi and Gaya in the north, he arrived at Vatapi. Apparently he extolled Chakravarthy Harsha’s reign at Kanyakubhja. To demonstrate that he was in no way inferior to Chakravarthy Harsha, the Vatapi Emperor has personally accompanied that traveller to show him the wonderful paintings and sculptures at Ajantha! Prabhu! Apparently Emperor Pulikesi is extremely fascinated by the arts these days! Apparently he is carving sculptures out of all the rocks in Vatapi in an attempt to emulate the sculptures in Mamallapuram! I myself saw some of the sculptors in Thondai Mandalam, whose limbs were not amputated but who were imprisoned, working on those rocks. But, listen to this joke. When Pulikesi showed the sculpted rocks to the Chinese traveler, Hiuen Tsang, he apparently said, ‘It was only after seeing these sculpted rocks did Mahendra Pallavan of Kanchi attempt to replicate these at Mamallapuram. I taught him a lesson and returned!” Do you know how I felt when I heard this? My blood boiled. The Jayasthambam at the Vatapi street junction that falsely proclaims that Pulikesi of Vatapi had defeated Mahendra Pallavar of Vatapi is still intact. Prabhu! I consoled myself thinking that this monument will survive only for another three months and returned. No preparations for war are underway at Vatapi. It seems that they are not anticipating our invasion! The Vatapi army is now scattered; with one section stationed at the banks of the Narmada River in the north and another section at Vengi in the east!”
When Gundodharan paused after speaking thus, Mamallar told Paranjyothi, “Commander! Did you see? We ourselves did not expect Shatrugnan’s strategy to work so well!” Then, Shatrugnan said humbly, “Pallavendra, why do you call it my strategy? I only executed what you and the commander had together decided!” Commander Paranjyothi responded to this saying, “Shatrugnan is stating the truth! Haven’t the three of us learnt all this from Mahendra Pallavar? If we do win this war, we owe the ensuing glory to Mahendra Pallavar!” “Commander! I object to your saying, ‘If we do win this war’. Why do you doubt our victory? But I don’t understand which strategy all of you are referring to; it will be good if you tell me!” said Aditya Varman.
“Well said, thambi! You will realize that Mahendra Varmar’s training has stood us in such good stead when you understand the strategy. For the last nine years when the commander and I were preparing for this invasion, Shatrugnan’s espionage force was working very skillfully. Some of our spies, goaded by Shatrugnan, started selling our military secrets to the Vatapi Emperor. Initially they sent facts and won Pulikesi’s confidence. Three years ago they sent a message that stated that the Pallava army was to invade Vatapi. Believing this, Pulikesi was well-prepared. But, as the Pallava army did not invade Vatapi, he felt cheated. After being deceived thus for three years, Pulikesi angrily cast aside the old spies. The new spies sent a message saying that there were no plans to invade Vatapi this year and that more soldiers were being recruited into the Pallava army to retrieve Lanka for Manavanman. We came to know beforehand that Pulikesi believed this message. We also came to know that Pulikesi split the Chalukya army stationed on the banks of the Tungabhadra River into two and sent one section to the banks of the Narmada River and the second section to Vengi. Now Gundodharan tells us that Pulikesi himself has headed to Ajantha. Hasn’t Shatrugnan’s strategy worked?”
Once Mamallar finished talking, Aditya Varman said, “Pallavendra! The Prince of Lanka has been of immense help to us in this regard! It is only because of Manavanman’s presence in Kanchi were you able to mislead Pulikesi!” “After sending the Pandya Kumaran, whom the Samanars had confused, back to Madurai, Manavanmar is fetching the Pandya army to war. This is no mean achievement,” said Shatrugnan. Mamallar said harshly, “Manavanman may have been of great help to us. But I can neither forget nor forgive him for cheating me!” “Pallavendra! What’s this? When did the Prince of Lanka cheat you?” asked the commander. “I had mentioned to him the key reason on account of which he could not accompany us to Vatapi. I had told him that if he were to lose his life on the battlefield, the royal family of Lanka would become issueless. So I had forbidden him from accompanying us. It is in this matter that Manavanman has cheated me!” said the Chakravarthy. “How can he cheat you in this?” asked Aditya Varman. “Within a week of our departure, the royal family of Lanka has a progeny! Apparently, Manavanman’s wife was ten moths pregnant when we had left. On the fifth day of our departure, she gave birth to a son. In this matter, even Shatrugnan failed to communicate the truth to me!” When Mamallar said this, everyone including the commander burst out laughing. “Oh! I now know!” said Gundodharan. “What have you discovered now?” asked Mamallar.
“Prabhu! When I was atop that banyan tree, I saw a large cloud of dust in the south. It seemed as though an army was advancing. From your conversation, it is apparent that the Prince of Lanka is hastening here with the Pandya army,” said Gundodharan. When Mamallar said, “Oh! Has he already come?” the large smile on his face was evident in the moonlight. He then asked Paranjyothi, “Commander! Notwithstanding this, what do all of you opine? Do you think I should forgive Manavanman’s fault and take him along with us?”
The commander’s voice was tinged with hesitation when he said, “Yes, Prabhu! We would have to take him along!” When Mamallar said, “In that case, the three of you cross the river tonight and make arrangements for the army’s accommodation. Gundodharan and I will stay back and bring Manavanman along. There are a few issues about which I need to question Gundodharan”, the other three who were astute immediately boarded the boats waiting for them at the river bank. After they left, Mamallar pointedly looked at Gundodharan. Gundodharan said in a soft tone, “Pallavendra! I saw Aayanar’s daughter at Vatapi; she is doing well. She is awaiting our arrival with bated breath”. “I’m sure that unfeeling woman’s well-being is under no threat. I’m the one who is struggling after losing all peace of mind,” murmured Narasimha Varmar.
