Chapter XVIII — The Prince Pursues His Love

There, in the public alms-house, stood’ the fair Manimekalai. She was radiant as a goddess. But her robes were the robes of a beggar-woman. In her hands, was the Holy Grail. Poor people pushed and jostled against her. All were eagerly feeding from her magic bowl. The Prince was amazed. He mused, “This is the woman whom I love. She has no equal in all the land, She is lovely as the moon. Yet she toils here, in a public alms-house, and feeds the poor. Here she spends her days in penance and fasting. I cannot understand.”

He came up to her. “Tell me, [ pray you, why did you take the vows? Why do you lead such a life of penance ?”

Manimekalai trembled before the Prince. Her heart was soft towards him. Her eyes looked on the ground. “This is my beloved husband,” she thought, “This is Raghulan. I must salute him. I must speak.” To the Prince, she said gently, ‘“Man’s body is doomed to many births. It suffers want, and sickness, and disease. It is full of woe. Wherefore, do I seek to help my fellows..

[ try to allay their hunger, and to ease their stricken hearts. My reasons are’ just and noble. You know that. Do your will with me. But forget not that you are a Prince, and valiant. A Prince like you has no need of the advice of a mere woman, O Udhaya- kumaran.”

Manimekalai left his side. She entered the shrine of Sampapathy. There she worship- ped. The Prince stayed outside. Would he wait for her? Manimekalai knew the strength of his passion, ‘Passion is thoughtless and wild,” she said to herself. ‘Passion has no conscience, Perhaps he will enter. He may seize me, and carry me off to his palace. I must make use of one of the mantrams.”

So she took on the guise of Kayachandika, and left the shrine. She went back to feed the poor from her bowl.

The Prince could wait no longer. He dashed into the shrine. No sign of Mani- mekalai could he see. He was puzzled. “Where can she be? Kayachandika has her alms bowl. Does she hide behind the statues?”

He flung himself before the altar. “O Sampapathy!” he cried. “My love hides from me. Her lips are red coral. Her teeth are pearls. Her eyes are beautiful as the carp.

Like bent bows are her brows. Like the moon at the full is the glory of her face. Like a lute in the hands of a master, is the music of her voice. And she is gone from me. Somewhere here she hides. Tell me how to find my love. For I swear by Thy holy feet, O Sampapathy, I will not leave Thy shrine without her, Weeks and months may go by, I shall not stir, without my lovely Mani- mekalai.”’

Then the Oracle of the Pillar opened its marble lips. ‘Prince! Your vow is rash and vain. You will never find your love.”

Then the Prince cried, “All is wonderful about my fair one. Wonderful was the vision in the grove. Wonderful is the Holy Grail she carries. Wonderful is the speech of this stone image. Wonderfulis my love for her. O Time, Thou alone can explain these wonders to my heart!”

Sadly, he went from the place. Sadly, he left Chakkaravala-kottam. Sadly he mount- ed his chariot, and rode home to the palace. Night came down into the city. Lovers touched their lutes. The sound pierced the heart of the Prince like an arrow. He moaned. “Can I live another day without Mani- mekalai?”