PONNIYIN SELVAN - Chapter-wise Summary - Book I - Chapters 11 to 20

CHAPTER 11 - SUDDEN ENTRY - திடும் பிரவேசம்

The astrologer told Kundhavai and Vaanadhi that the future husband of Vaanadhi should be a great warrior and also he would be from the same country. He added that the warrior might get some troubles but eventually he would win. While Vaanadhi was asking about Kundhavai's future husband, Vandhiya Thevan (VT) entered there without obeying the watchman's words. On seeing Kundhavai, he became stunned by her beauty. He went out and continued to argue with the watchman. When the two women went out, VT apologized for the arrogant entry but Kundhavai went past him without saying anything. VT was gazing at her for a long time.

CHAPTER 12 - NANDHINI - நந்தினி

How did VT reach Kudandhai astrologer's house from the bank of Kollidam river? 

A small flashback.

When Kandhamaaran (KM) sent off Vandhiya Thevan (VT), Azhvarkkadiyaan (AA) got a place in the boat with him. There was another man with them. AA kept arguing with him which God was greater. VT stopped their arguement. After reaching the other side, VT and AA were left alone. 

AA pretended as if he didn't go to Kadambur palace the previous night. Of course, AA didn't know that VT knew about his visit there. VT also pretended as if he didn't know about the midnight meeting and as if he didn't know about AA's visit. VT accused AA of desire for other's woman. Hearing this accusation, AA started telling the story of Nandhini, the woman whom PPV had married.

Flashback within a flashback.

AA was born in the banks of Vaigai river in the country of Pandyas. One day, AA's parents found a female child in the river bank. The child was so beautiful. They took it home and looked after her as their daughter. AA accepted her as his sister. Both AA and Nandhini grew up as great worshippers of Lord Vishnu.

Once there was a war between Pandyas and Cholas in the country of Pandyas. The king of Pandyas was badly injured. Nandhini took him to their house to treat him. Chola soldiers surrounded their house. They entered the house and killed the king. PPV was also among them. When he saw Nandhini, he was mesmerized by her beauty. So, he took her with him. Since then, AA had been trying his best to see her to save her from PPV. 

(The above mentioned flashback was AA's version not the narration by the novelist)

VT was moved by the story. Though he was tempted to reveal to AA that the person in the palanquin was actually Madhuraandhagan, he didn't do so. He asked AA if he knew who would be the next Chola king. AA replied that he didn't know it but the Kudandhai astrologer might know. So, this is how VT came to the astrologer's house at Kudandhai.

CHAPTER 13 - GROWING MOON - வளர்பிறைச் சந்திரன்

The astrologer took VT inside. VT wanted to know about Kundhavai but the astrologer refused to say anything about her. VT asked so many questions about the Chola country, Sundhara Chola, Aditha Karikaalan (AK), Arulmozhi Varman (AMV), Madhuraandhagan and Kundhavai in order to know what would happen to the Cholan empire. The astrologer said he didn't have any clue. He merely told him that the Cholan empire would grow as a growing moon. When asked if VT had any opportunity to travel by ship, the astrologer gave a positive reply. 

CHAPTER 14 - CROCODILE AT THE RIVER BANK - ஆற்றங்கரை முதலை

After visiting the astrologer, VT rode towards the river where Vaanadhi and Kundhavai had left for. But he didn't know they had gone there. Neither did he know that the woman he admired was actually Kundhavai, the princess. 

On his way, he enjoyed the lush beauty of Chola country's natural scenery. When he neared the river, he heard the voices of young women. Among them, he could see Vaanadhi and Kundhavai. Suddenly, the women started screaming "Crocodile, Crocodile!!". He saw a crocodile near them. He took his spear and threw it towards it. The spear pierced the back of the crocodile. When he went near it with a sword drawn in his hand, the women started laughing which confused VT.

CHAPTER 15 - VAANADHI'S SPELL- வானதியின் ஜாலம்

When Vaanadhi and Kundhavai had gone to meet the astrologer, the other women were discussing how Vaanadhi acted innocent in front of Kundhavai and Arulmozhi (Since they were all jealous of the intimacy between Vaanadhi and the princess Kundhavai, they talked ill of Vaanadhi). All these women knew that Vaanadhi was in love with Arulmozhi Varman (AMV).

Before leaving for kudandhai, Kundhavai had asked them to set a dummy crocodile in the river in order to deceive Vaanadhi with a prank. 

Since the women were discussing about the great nature of Arulmozhi Varman, the narrator tells the readers about him. 

Arul Mozhi Varman a.k.a Ponniyin Selvan - The Hero of this story.

CHAPTER 16 - ARULMOZHI VARMAN - அருள்மொழி வர்மர்

Sundhara Chola succeeded his father Arinjayan and ruled the country excellently. Once there was a war between the Cholas and Pandyas in a place called Sevur. The Sinhalese king Mahinda supported Pandyas. Cholas won the war and the Pandya king Veera Paandiyan escaped and hid in a cave. It had been regular that the Sinhalese supported Pandyas in every war. So, Cholas wanted to teach them a lesson. So, Kodumbaalur Velan (KV) led a force to fight against the Sinhalese. Mahinda defeated Cholas in the war.  This victory gave confidence to the hiding Veera Paandiyan so he came out and fought against the Cholas only to be defeated and killed. Cholas were still angry on Mahinda. Sundhara Chola was thinking whom to be sent to Sri Lanka. Prince Aditha Karikaalan (AK) was in North India. So, Arulmozhi Varman (AMV) came forward to go to Sri Lanka. It was his elder sister Kundhavai who encouraged him to volunteer. 

When Arulmozhi Varman (AMV) was being sent off, Vaanadhi fainted and Arulmozhi Varaman (AMV) was so kind towards her. This made the women (Other friends of Kundhavai) jealous on Vaanadhi. Simce Arulmozhi Varman (AMV) had left for Sri Lanka, Kundhavai had been kind towards Vaanadhi. 

(Vaanadhi was the daughter of Kodumbalur Velan (KV), the Petty King of Kodumbalur under Chola empire)

CHAPTER 17 - HORSE GALLOPED - குதிரை பாய்ந்தது

Kundhavai had already decided that Vaanadhi was the best pair for her brother Arulmozhi Varman (AMV). The only thing Kundhavai didn't like in Vaanadhi was her fear. In order to help Vaanadhi get rid off her fear, Kundhavai had given guidelines to her other friends to set the dummy crocodile. So, when Vaanadhi and Kundhavai returned from the astrologer, all the women screamed as if they were afraid of the crocodile.

It was then, VT also arrived there. On hearing the scream of the women, he went to the river bank and was deceived by the dummy. He threw his spear from a distant place to accurately attack the crocodile. But, he was surprised to see that the 'wounded crocodile' didn't move. He went near it and took his spear off its body. Sponge came out of the torn skin. The women giggled at this. Kundhavai scolded them and went to VT to thank him for volunteering his help. VT was so impressed by her voice. Since the women kept laughing, he departed the place out of shame. Even after VT had left, Kundhavai was looking at the path for a long time. Then, she came to the women and scolded them again. 

CHAPTER 18 - IDUMBAN KAARI - இடும்பன் காரி

When VT left for Kudandhai to meet the astrologer, Azhvarkkadiyaan (AA) was still there on the Kollidam river bank. (Another name of Azhvarkkadiyaan was Thirumalai)

The man who earned a horse for VT came to him and they two had a casual talk. In the middle of the talk, the new man (Idumban Kaari) gave a signal to AA. He made the form of a fish with his palms. AA asked him what the signal actually meant. But he replied him that he didn't give any signal. 

The boat at the river bank started to sail to the other side. Idumban Kaari (IK) ran towards the boat. When he was running to the boat, AA climbed on to the banyan tree which Idumban Kaari (IK) didn't see. After running for a short distance, IK stopped and looked back. AA wasn't there so he decided that he should have been gone. He again came to the tree and sat under the tree. After a while, another man (Soman Saambavan) came there. Both of them exchanged the fish signal. Then they left for the dilapidated building called Pallipadai at the middle of the forest. 

When they're gone, AA got off the tree, took another route and reached the dilapidated building mentioned by them. He started waiting for them there. 

CHAPTER 19 - BLOODBATH FOREST - ரணகள ஆரண்யம்

Note : As mentioned in the introduction, the following highlighted part isn't necessary for the flow of the story. It is a historical background information. 

In those days, Pallipadai was a temple built in the memory of a warrior who faced a valiant death in a war. The Pallipadai, the two men mentioned had been built in the memory of Prithvipathi who had died in a war some 100 years ago. 

There had been a fight between Pandyas led by Varaguna Varman and Pallavas led by Aparajitha Varman. The war had taken place at Chola country. Kandar Adithan, with a small troup had joined Pallavas. On the verge of defeat, Pallavas and Cholas had decided to retreat. But, it was Kandar Adithan's father Vijayalaya Chola who had won them the war single handedly. In the war, King Prithvipathi (a Petty King) had died a valiant death. A Pallipadai had been built. It had been 100 years since the Pallipadai temple had been built.

AA waited for a long time in darkness, hiding on a tree. After a while, two men arrived there followed by few other men. They all discussed something which wasn't audible to AA.

One of the men, Ravidhasan, opened a bag and showed some gold coins to the others. He laughed and shouted that they were going to demolish Chola empire with the help of their own coins. 

CHAPTER 20 - FIRST FOE - முதற் பகைவன்

AA got off the tree and walked a little closer to them in order to hear them clearly.

Ravidhaasan told them that they had to kill two enemies - one at Sri Lanka and the another one at Thondai {Possibly, he referred to Arul Mozhi Varman (AMV) and Aditha Karikaalan (AK)}. 

They discussed whom to be sent to Sri Lanka. Ravidhaasan told them that the right person would be chosen later. At that moment, Idumban Kaari (IK) and Soman Saambavan (SS) came there. 

Idumban Kaari (IK) had actually been sent by Ravidhaasan to Kadambur palace to spy. IK told Ravidhaasan about the secret meeting held at Kadambur palace the previous night. He also told that he saw another man who was also spying the meeting, and that he didn't belong to their group. (When AA was watching the meeting from the top of the wall, IK had seen him. But IK had thought that he might also be sent by Ravidhaasan and so he hadn't minded him. However, when he showed the fish signal, AA wasn't able to understand it. So, IK had come to the conclusion that he didn't belong to Pandya country. (Fish was the emblem of Pandyas; Tiger - Cholas)

Ravidhaasan told the men that the man should be Thirumalai who was also known as Azhvarkkadiyaan (AA). He warned them that he was a spy working for Anirudha, the Prime Minister of Chola Country. 

Suddenly AA sneezed. One of the men came near the tree he was hiding behind. AA caught an owl from the tree and attacked the man with it. He then disappeared into the darkness.