Excerpt: Troubled Waters — Ponniyin Selvan Book Two Kalki

As the winds of political intrigue and dynastic upheavals blow through the Chozha Empire, it all comes down to one woman—the powerful Pazhuvoor Ilaiya Rani, Nandini. What is the strange power she wields over her influential husband, Periya Pazhuvettaraiyar? Why does the mere mention of her name torment Crown Prince Aditya Karikalan?

And what about our fearless hero, Vallavarayan Vandiyadevan? Does he complete the mission to deliver Aditya Karikalan’s message to Kundavai Piraatti? Does Azhvarkadiyaan Nambi succeed in his quest to meet Nandini? And what fate awaits those who are conspiring against Emperor Sundara Chozhar?

When Ponniyin Selvan was first serialised in Kalki, no one could have imagined the impact it would have on the circulation of the magazine. The novel invented a distinct style, in which slang alternates with erudition, wordplay with euphoric prose and vivid imagery—a style that critics came to call ‘Kalki Tamil’. Today, this pioneering work is considered one of the great classics of Tamil literature.

This unabridged translation of Kalki Krishnamurthy’s masterwork by Nandini Krishnan is at once faithful to the original and accessible to the readers of this day. Carefully crafted in lyrical prose, the Ponniyin Selvan series is the quintessential page-turner

Here's an excerpt from Ponniyin Selvan Book Two

Our hero Vandiyadevan amused himself studying the illustrated histories of the Chozha emperors, from Vijayalaya Chozhar to Parantakar II, Sundara Chozhar. Aha! What incredible men they had been, without exception! How courageous they had proven themselves in battle! Each had treated his living breath as a trifle and never hesitated to put his life at stake for the expansion of the empire. They had achieved unparalleled greatness for themselves and their kingdom, and each of their biographies outdid 
the stories of mythological heroes and their deeds, the ancient epics of the land. Chozha Naadu was blessed to have been ruled by such a dynasty. The territories over which they ruled today were blessed too. 

Vandiyadevan noticed another crucial aspect in the paintings that depicted the life stories of the Chozha emperors. For every Chozha emperor, there was a Pazhuvoor king playing his right hand, standing by to carry out the tasks that could only be entrusted to an exemplary lieutenant. In every scene of battle, this Pazhuvoor king could be spotted plunging bravely into the fray. 

It was a Pazhuvettaraiyar who first laid siege to the Thanjai fort and captured it from Muththarayar. When an aged Vijayalaya Chozhan, who had lost the use of both legs, made his way to the battle arena in Tiruppurambiyam, it was another Pazhuvettaraiyar 
who offered him his shoulders and served as his mount. 

It was yet another Pazhuvettaraiyar who crowned Aditya Chozhan king and oversaw the pattabhishekam performed at the coronation ceremony. When Aditya Chozhan lunged for Aparajita Varman’s elephant and killed the rider, it was a Pazhuvettaraiyar who bent over to make a springboard of his back and shoulders for the king to gain momentum for the leap. In the various wars led by Parantaka Chakravarti, it was the Pazhuvettaraiyars who were at the vanguard, holding the tiger flag aloft. As a wounded Rajadityan fell to the ground at battle, it was a Pazhuvettaraiyar who held his head and eased the prince on to his lap, to 
give him the news that the Rashtrakuta armies had fled the field. It was the Pazhuvettaraiyars, too, who were right by the side of Arinjayar and Sundara Chozhar as they went about their heroic deeds in war. 

As he studied the artwork, Vandiyadevan was lost for words. It was no surprise that the Pazhuvettaraiyar brothers wielded such influence in Chozha Naadu today. Nor was it surprising that Sundara Chozhar sought their opinions on everything. 

It was clear, though, that he’d landed himself in a terribly complicated situation. Chinna Pazhuvettaraiyar had quite obviously begun to nurse some sort of suspicion regarding his intentions. Whatever those suspicions were, they would be confirmed once his elder brother entered the city. The story of his manipulations with the signet ring would come out. 

And then he would be done for. 

Vandiyadevan had heard tell of the dungeons in Pazhuvettaraiyar’s palace. They might throw him in there. Once someone was imprisoned in those dungeons, it was unlikely he would ever come out alive. If he happened to, he would be a living corpse, 
bereft of all reason and sanity, and reduced to skin and bones. 

Aha! How was he to get himself out of this peril? 

He would have to find a way to leave the fort before Periyavar arrived. Our hero had even lost the desire to meet the Pazhuvoor Ilaiya Rani once more. All he wanted was to escape with his life before he was sucked into the dungeon. Although he had lost the 
scroll, he could still meet Kundavai Piraatti in person and give her Aditya Karikalar’s message. She might choose to believe him, or not. But how was he to get out of the Thanjai fort now? 

Another question rose in Vandiyadevan’s head at this juncture—what had happened to the clothes he had been wearing? It struck him that his royal welcome and his being given this gift of new clothes had all been part of a ruse to examine his clothes. The scroll 
intended for Kundavai Devi must have fallen into the hands of the Thalapathi. No, there was no doubt. This was exactly what had happened. Now, he realised why Chinna Pazhuvettaraiyar had held his hand in such an iron grip that he hadn’t been able to sidle away along with the poets. And why three men had been stationed to guard him. Aha! A ploy! He needed a ploy. Yes, he had one in mind! Yes, it was time to put it into action! Veeravel! Vetrivel! 

Vandiyadevan looked out of one of the windows of the Chitra Mandapam. Chinna Pazhuvettaraiyar, surrounded by his entourage, was riding his horse towards the mandapam. Aha! This was the right moment. He couldn’t afford to delay this by even a second! 

The three bodyguards who had been busying themselves with chokkattan at the threshold folded up their game and stood up. They had heard the sounds that heralded the arrival of their lord and master. 

Vandiyadevan approached them and said, ‘Brothers! Where are the clothes I was wearing?’ 

‘What do you want with those filthy clothes now? We have given you new silk garments in accordance with Ejamaan’s orders,’ one of them said. 

‘I don’t need new clothes. My old clothes were good enough. Bring them to me right away!’ 

‘They’ve been sent to the dhobi. We’ll bring them to you once they’re ready.’ 

‘No, no! I won’t hear of it! You’re thieves! I had hidden my money in my old clothes. You have taken them to steal my money. Bring them to me now! Or else…’ 

‘Or else what will you do, boy? You’ll lop off our heads and send them off to Thanjavur, will you? But this is Thanjavur. Keep that in mind.’ 

‘Ade! Are you going to bring my clothes back right away? Or not?’ Vandiyadevan said to the man who had spoken. 

‘I can only bring them to you if they’re still around. We’ve thrown those soiled things to the crocodiles. How can I fetch them from the crocodile’s stomach?’

‘You thieving scoundrels! Do you think this is a joke? Here, I’m going to tell your Ejamaan, just you wait and watch!’ said Vandiyadevan, and made for the entrance. 

One of the three stepped in his way to stop him. Vandiyadevan punched his nose hard. That was all it took. The man collapsed to the floor in a faint. Blood began to drip from his nose. 

Another approached Vandiyadevan as if he planned to wrestle him, extending both his arms before him. Vandiyadevan gripped both those extended arms, stuck one of his legs between those of his opponent and gave his arms a mighty twist. That put paid to him. He sank to the floor with an ‘Ammadi!’ 

As the third made for him, Vandiyadevan aimed a kick at his knee. He fell down, wailing. 

All three rose again to surround Vandiyadevan, but they were more prudent this time, keeping a safe distance even as they made the right noises. 

By this time, the horse had reached the door of the palace. Vandiyadevan threw all his power into his voice and hollered, ‘Thieves! Thieves!’ and leapt upon them. The three men tried to overpower him, but he screamed, ‘Thieving scoundrels! Thieving scoundrels!’ 

Chinna Pazhuvettaraiyar strode into the hall, demanding, ‘What is this commotion about?’

Excerpted with permission from Troubled Waters, Ponniyin Selvan- Book 2, Kalki, Translated by Nandini Krishnan, Eka- an imprint of Westland Books.