Page:The Tamils Eighteen Hundred Years Ago.djvu/96

Rh to death. The poet Kovûr-kilar interceded on their behalf, and addressed the king as follows :—

“Thou art the descendant of him who saved the pigeon and others from distress. These young boys are the children of one whose tribe is famous for its patronage of the learned. Afraid of the ferocious elephant, they shed tears and are now gazing in fright at thy Royal Court. Having, listened to my words, thou mayest do whatever thou thinkest proper.”

Killi-Valavan invaded the Pandyan territory and advanced up to Madura, but was defeated under the walls of that town by Palayan Maran, the Commander of the Pandyan army. After the death of his cousin Chenkudduva Chera, the Chola King marched into the Kongu country which formed part of the Chera dominions. The resistance offered by the Chera forces was so weak, that the Chola King led his army to the gates of Vanji, the Chera capital, without any difficulty. The Chera King was afraid to venture out of the fort, and Killi-Valavan destroyed therefore the buildings, fields and gardens outside the walls of the town. I translate below some of the verses addressed to the King by the bards who accompanied his army :—

“Like a thunderbolt which scorches and burns up the trees on a mountain, underneath which lies concealed in a cave, a venomous five-headed serpent, thou descendant of Sembyan, who once generously saved a pigeon! Lord of the victorious lance and gallant army! while he, the master of many elephants holds the fort, the walls of which are impregnable as if made of brass, in the deep and broad moats surrounding which are deadly crocodiles—thou destroyest all that is good outside the fort.”

“Thou descendant of him who to save a pigeon had himself weighed on a pair of scales made of ivory, no act of charity can increase thy fame. When we think of thy illustrious forefathers, one of whom stormed the wondrous castles which hung in air, no victory can add to thy prowess. As thy courts of law at Uraiyur ever decide impartially, no act of justice on thy part can enhance thy merits. Thou Valava, lord of the fleet war steeds, who wearest garlands of the Ar, whose powerful arms are as strong as iron in smiting thy enemies, how shall I sing of thy might, when thou dost