Chapter XXV — The Visit to Manipallavam

Manimekalai flew straight to the island of Manipallavam. There she worshipped at the Holy Seat, and pondered over many things. And there she awaited the coming of the King Punnya-rajan. When his ship sailed into the harbour, she went to meet him. She made him welcome, and led him to the Holy Seat.

At once, he saw his past life, cleatly. It was as if cobwebs ‘were brushed from a murror. Nothing was. hidden from him now. Once again, he gaye, praise to Chinta- devi. Yo her he owed the gift of, the Grail.

_ Together he and the Wise Maid sat by the tank of Gomukhi. | As they rested and talked, Dwipa-Thilaka came to them. She saluted the newcomer. She . called him Aputhra. ““Know you those bones?” she asked.‘ Your ship sailed away without you. The merchants found out their mistake. They returned for you. They | found you dead. For you starved yourself to death. Do you remémber that? You wished to die. But did ‘you wish their deaths also? Yonder on: the shore, the sea has made a great mound of sand. It is the, mausoleum of the body of Aputhra. Did these men die for you, or did you cause their deaths P You are a King in ‘this life: i Nilere you a murderer in the last?”

Dwipa-Thilaka turned to “yptntatelealats “The curse of Manimekala-devi. has -fallen at last; on the city of Kaveripatnam. The King did not pay due respect. ‘to the, Festival of Indra. The sea rose in wrath, and cover— ed all the land. The King himself is saved. The sage Aravana, your mother and Sutha-

mathi have been carried safely to Vanji. Manimekala-devi asked me to tell you this.”

The guardian spirit of the Holy Seat had given her message. Now = she left them, The King and Manimekalai talked! long together. She showed him all the island. The King wished to stay in that holy place. But Manimekalai urged him to: return to the Chavakas. “Now you know all your past. You know how to act. Alter this, you will be more merciful, more just. You are a great King. Henceforth, your name will be more glorious than ever.”

So the King kept his promise to his. people. He went back to his own land. There he ruled wisely and well. And_ his life was long.

Manimekalai flew at once to Vanji. She Was eager to embrace her mother Madhavi. Aravana would talk to her of the Lord Buddha and his laws. And there too, was- the Temple to the Goddess of Chastity, Kannaki, the wife of Kovalan. Manimekalai wished much to look on the image of the wife of her father.

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