Ep 29: Conquering Cravings Creatively (Final Chapter!)

[00:00:00] Welcome to another exciting episode of Ancient Anecdotes, powered by ListenCub.

[00:00:06] This is your host, Ramanathan Iyer.

[00:00:08] My name is Kamath Shikali Swaran, and today I am representing Kudam.

[00:00:13] And this is Bharat Krishnan.

[00:00:15] And this is Lalita Ramanathan.

[00:00:20] Appa, seriously, sit down here.

[00:00:23] Yenna, what happened?

[00:00:24] This cliffhanger and all, too much, okay?

[00:00:27] The old lady is covered with blood and crying, it seems.

[00:00:32] Ruputunka is coming close to her and finding out, it seems.

[00:00:35] And the episode ended off.

[00:00:37] Anyaya, Pa?

[00:00:39] Papa, cliffhanger. It is called cliffhanger.

[00:00:43] Chumma, the tension is too much.

[00:00:45] I have been biting the nails to find out.

[00:00:47] Poh, pay some, Ata.

[00:00:50] Adha, Pa, I am going to tell you.

[00:00:52] I am literally going to continue right now.

[00:00:54] Hmm. Okay, tell me quickly then.

[00:00:58] In the last exciting episode of Ancient Anecdotes…

[00:01:02] Oh God, recaps!

[00:01:05] Every day, the prince would bathe in the Manimuttara river

[00:01:09] and come for washing the large temple elephants.

[00:01:12] The temple was well-endored, and so there were 11 elephants in all.

[00:01:16] And as the prince was to find out, they were not small, innocent animals at all.

[00:01:24] Gauri, no!

[00:01:25] No!

[00:01:28] This water has been continuously dripping on your head,

[00:01:33] and it has caused this wound over time.

[00:01:37] Something as soft as water can harm someone as big as you.

[00:01:45] There is strength in softness.

[00:01:47] There is firmness in fluidity.

[00:01:50] He saw an old woman fallen next to the twin nandi near the southern entrance.

[00:01:58] She was holding the smaller nandi and tugging at it,

[00:02:03] wailing in pain and breathing in loud, ragged breaths.

[00:02:08] She is 70-something.

[00:02:12] As he neared her, he saw that the woman's head was actually bathed in red.

[00:02:17] Was it vermilion?

[00:02:19] No, it was blood.

[00:02:21] She was bleeding.

[00:02:22] And now, we continue.

[00:02:25] Finally!

[00:02:27] The lady looked fiercely at Nrupatunga.

[00:02:30] Something about her eyes told Nrupatunga that this was no ordinary poor woman.

[00:02:34] Her eyes were those of royalty, and her strength was that of at least 10 men.

[00:02:39] A single stream of blood oozed from her head over her eyelashes,

[00:02:44] down her cheek and over her lips,

[00:02:46] and splashed recklessly onto Nrupatunga's face as her voice made Nrupatunga's heart squirm with helplessness.

[00:02:54] Food?

[00:02:57] Medicine?

[00:02:59] At this stage of my life, I need only one thing that I can't find.

[00:03:04] As far as my eye can still see.

[00:03:07] Justice.

[00:03:08] I want justice.

[00:03:12] Nrupatunga's voice seemed to have evaporated with surprise.

[00:03:15] He swallowed forcefully to wet his larynx and finally found his voice.

[00:03:21] Why do you seek justice, Amma?

[00:03:23] What has befallen you?

[00:03:25] Who has wronged you?

[00:03:27] The woman looked flippantly at Nrupatunga's clothes.

[00:03:31] She brought her face close to Nrupatunga's face and said with an unsettling mixture of anger and pain,

[00:03:37] That is not a question for the keeper of elephants.

[00:03:41] It's a question for the king.

[00:03:43] If you really want to help me,

[00:03:47] stop talking and turn that smaller upaharanandi around to face the arigaranandi.

[00:03:53] Because I need to speak to a king.

[00:03:57] Drupatunga realized his place.

[00:03:59] He let go of her hand and went on his knees.

[00:04:02] He clasped the smaller nandi with both his hands and tugged it in the opposite direction.

[00:04:07] It didn't move at first.

[00:04:09] Drupatunga heard a familiar voice.

[00:04:11] My king, remember.

[00:04:14] Remember the power of water.

[00:04:17] There is strength in softness.

[00:04:19] There is firmness in fluidity.

[00:04:22] Drupatunga used his soft martial art moves to coax the nandi idol to move rather than push it or tug at it.

[00:04:29] And wonders of wonders,

[00:04:31] the smaller nandi turned a full circle.

[00:04:33] A stream of water squirted from underneath the nandi and covered Drupatunga's knees and feet.

[00:04:38] Drupatunga bent and touched the water and looked up to her with every bit of responsibility he could muster.

[00:04:44] But then something changed again.

[00:04:45] He could never understand why.

[00:04:48] But when he heard his own voice, it suddenly felt different.

[00:04:51] It boomed across the praharam of the temple as far as the ear could hear.

[00:04:57] He said aloud,

[00:05:00] I am the one you are searching for, Amma.

[00:05:02] You stand before the Terkathuko Parakesari.

[00:05:06] Pallavan Ripatunga Varman.

[00:05:08] The lady's once flippant glance and pain suddenly evaporated as she looked at him with wonderment.

[00:05:15] He went on his knees again this time.

[00:05:17] He patted his head affectionately and said,

[00:05:20] Oh, king of the land.

[00:05:23] I was once the youngest Chora queen who was married to the great Dharmabalachoran.

[00:05:30] The king who built this very Vilvanallu temple.

[00:05:34] My name is Adirai.

[00:05:37] My king Dharmabalan is long dead but today,

[00:05:41] Adirai never moaned for her husband since she knew he fell as a penalty for valor.

[00:05:48] But today I moan for a king.

[00:05:51] Legend says that my lord Soken Kameswaran will send a king along

[00:05:55] even if a single subject of this kingdom is in need.

[00:05:59] Today, I am happy.

[00:06:02] I am alive to see this legend being proved.

[00:06:06] What happened, O Great Mother?

[00:06:08] Why are you wounded?

[00:06:09] Who has wronged you?

[00:06:11] What help is needed?

[00:06:13] My late husband Dharmabalan

[00:06:16] left me in charge of the port of Veeram Pattinam

[00:06:19] to care for the people there.

[00:06:21] I have protected them.

[00:06:24] I have protected the people there

[00:06:26] as long as I can remember.

[00:06:29] My body grows old

[00:06:30] and it's not what it used to be.

[00:06:35] Today, after a long time,

[00:06:37] a pack of conniving wolves

[00:06:39] bear the gates of Veeram Pattinam.

[00:06:42] The port and its people are under the attack

[00:06:45] and I can do nothing about it.

[00:06:48] Some strangers have come from across the seas.

[00:06:51] They are violently attacking the harbour workers over there.

[00:06:55] Young children, men and women alike.

[00:06:58] Simple-minded men who only work for some money.

[00:07:02] Who will protect them if not their king?

[00:07:06] I went to their aid.

[00:07:09] But they are all heavily set warriors

[00:07:11] who carry heavy weapons.

[00:07:13] I was unceremoniously thrashed on my head with a maze.

[00:07:19] If help doesn't come within the hour,

[00:07:23] these people will soon perish.

[00:07:27] Drupadunga took his weapons from Sabha Patiyar

[00:07:29] and took the Padayarani, Attirai,

[00:07:31] on his steed

[00:07:32] and galloped towards Veeram Pattinam

[00:07:33] without any further ado.

[00:07:36] Drupadunga Varman

[00:07:37] rode into Veeram Pattinam

[00:07:39] like a streak of lightning.

[00:07:40] Before him,

[00:07:41] a whirlwind of chaos unfolded.

[00:07:43] Villagers and dock workers were under siege.

[00:07:46] Their attackers were tall,

[00:07:48] broad, powerful men

[00:07:49] menacingly brandishing strange foreign weapons

[00:07:52] that glinted ominously

[00:07:53] in the raging flames

[00:07:54] of the torches they carried.

[00:07:56] These warriors

[00:07:57] were clearly not from India.

[00:07:59] Their skin wasn't pale

[00:08:01] like the Huns

[00:08:02] or the Ming warriors from China.

[00:08:03] Yet,

[00:08:04] their eyes were thin

[00:08:05] and their armours

[00:08:06] were crafted with metals.

[00:08:09] So,

[00:08:10] they are quite progressive

[00:08:12] in weaponry

[00:08:13] but they have a primitive

[00:08:15] fighting style

[00:08:16] and haven't cultured

[00:08:18] their behaviour.

[00:08:21] Drupadunga noted

[00:08:22] with a sad smile.

[00:08:24] Drupadunga left

[00:08:25] Queen Attirai

[00:08:26] safely on the horse.

[00:08:28] With swift determination,

[00:08:29] he charged into the fray,

[00:08:30] his eyes locked

[00:08:31] onto a young boy

[00:08:32] besieged by

[00:08:33] brutal fist

[00:08:34] and flogged

[00:08:35] by wooden sticks.

[00:08:36] Instinct drove him forward

[00:08:37] but the warriors

[00:08:38] were unyielding,

[00:08:39] their strength

[00:08:40] pushing him back

[00:08:41] with ease.

[00:08:41] Suddenly,

[00:08:43] danger loomed

[00:08:44] as one warrior

[00:08:45] lunged

[00:08:46] to stab him

[00:08:47] from behind.

[00:08:48] In that crucial moment,

[00:08:49] the old Queen Attirai

[00:08:50] acted with noble bravery.

[00:08:52] She took the blow

[00:08:53] intended for him.

[00:08:54] She collapsed

[00:08:55] into a heap

[00:08:56] on the floor.

[00:08:56] Falling,

[00:08:57] she caught

[00:08:58] Drupadunga's gaze.

[00:08:59] Her words were

[00:09:00] a fading whisper

[00:09:01] filled with wisdom.

[00:09:02] My king,

[00:09:05] I came to Vilvanalur

[00:09:07] angry with Sokhan,

[00:09:10] blind to his divine plan.

[00:09:15] I walked in furious

[00:09:16] with Sokhan Kameshwaran

[00:09:17] stubbornly,

[00:09:18] demanding that he

[00:09:20] kept his word

[00:09:21] and protect

[00:09:22] Viram Pattinam.

[00:09:27] When I saw him

[00:09:29] move the Upaharanandi,

[00:09:32] I realized that promise

[00:09:33] was already fulfilled.

[00:09:36] He had guided me

[00:09:37] to you.

[00:09:40] When the water

[00:09:41] touched us,

[00:09:43] I knew Kamakshi

[00:09:44] Amma had already

[00:09:45] given me her son

[00:09:46] to protect my people.

[00:09:54] Sokhan escorted me

[00:09:55] to my destiny.

[00:09:57] So,

[00:09:59] also,

[00:10:00] I have escorted you

[00:10:02] to yours.

[00:10:05] As my story ends,

[00:10:08] yours begins.

[00:10:10] Remember,

[00:10:13] there is strength

[00:10:14] and softness.

[00:10:16] Remember,

[00:10:20] remember,

[00:10:21] like when you

[00:10:22] moved the Nandi,

[00:10:25] like when you

[00:10:25] worked with the elephants.

[00:10:28] Remember.

[00:10:29] Her sacrifice

[00:10:36] ignited a fire

[00:10:37] within Ripatunga.

[00:10:39] The king rose,

[00:10:41] her courage

[00:10:42] infusing

[00:10:43] his spirit.

[00:10:45] He faced

[00:10:46] the remaining warriors

[00:10:47] carrying

[00:10:47] her lessons

[00:10:48] in his heart.

[00:10:49] He steadied himself,

[00:10:51] his mind

[00:10:51] reaching back

[00:10:52] to his training.

[00:10:53] In the heart

[00:10:54] of the turmoil,

[00:10:55] a familiar calm

[00:10:56] enveloped him.

[00:10:57] It was a whisper

[00:10:58] of ancient wisdom

[00:10:59] guiding his actions.

[00:11:01] Harmony

[00:11:01] in movement.

[00:11:03] Power

[00:11:03] in yielding

[00:11:05] and the soft

[00:11:07] strength of water.

[00:11:08] He let

[00:11:09] these teachings

[00:11:10] guide him.

[00:11:11] Ripatunga

[00:11:12] shifted his stance.

[00:11:13] His movements

[00:11:14] turned fluid.

[00:11:15] Each step

[00:11:16] a dance of precision.

[00:11:17] He weaved

[00:11:18] among his force

[00:11:19] like a stream

[00:11:20] around stones.

[00:11:21] Every attack

[00:11:22] they launched

[00:11:22] met with

[00:11:23] graceful deflection.

[00:11:24] Their strength

[00:11:25] faltered

[00:11:26] against his agile flow.

[00:11:27] The northerners

[00:11:28] charged forward

[00:11:29] with a fury

[00:11:30] that seemed

[00:11:30] unstoppable.

[00:11:31] Their voices

[00:11:32] rang out

[00:11:33] in a harsh

[00:11:33] foreign tongue

[00:11:34] grating

[00:11:35] and unfamiliar

[00:11:36] each word

[00:11:36] bellowing

[00:11:37] like the roar

[00:11:37] of a wild beast.

[00:11:39] Towering figures

[00:11:40] clad in heavy

[00:11:41] furs and iron

[00:11:41] their weapons

[00:11:42] gleaming with menace

[00:11:44] they moved

[00:11:44] like a storm.

[00:11:46] Axes swung

[00:11:46] in brutal arcs.

[00:11:48] Hammers

[00:11:48] crashed

[00:11:49] with unrelenting

[00:11:50] force

[00:11:51] and the spears

[00:11:52] thrust forward

[00:11:52] with deadly

[00:11:53] precisions.

[00:11:54] The air

[00:11:54] hummed

[00:11:55] with their raw

[00:11:56] power

[00:11:56] their strength

[00:11:57] evident in

[00:11:58] every step.

[00:12:00] Among them

[00:12:01] however

[00:12:01] stood

[00:12:02] Drupatunga

[00:12:03] Varman

[00:12:03] Pallava.

[00:12:04] His frame

[00:12:05] slight

[00:12:05] and seemingly

[00:12:07] frail

[00:12:08] compared to

[00:12:09] the massive

[00:12:09] warriors

[00:12:10] before him.

[00:12:11] His movements

[00:12:11] were deliberate

[00:12:12] slow

[00:12:13] and serene

[00:12:14] like the

[00:12:15] unfolding of

[00:12:16] a great

[00:12:17] natural force.

[00:12:18] His stance

[00:12:19] was that

[00:12:20] of a master

[00:12:20] poised in

[00:12:21] an ancient

[00:12:21] slow style

[00:12:22] of Kaleripite

[00:12:23] blending

[00:12:24] effortlessly

[00:12:25] with the

[00:12:25] energy of

[00:12:26] the battlefield.

[00:12:27] The mercenaries

[00:12:28] expert in

[00:12:30] the hard

[00:12:31] hammering

[00:12:32] and piercing

[00:12:33] brutal

[00:12:33] fighting style

[00:12:34] of the northern

[00:12:34] lands had

[00:12:35] been trained

[00:12:36] to fight

[00:12:36] with the

[00:12:36] force of

[00:12:37] the earth

[00:12:37] itself

[00:12:38] using their

[00:12:38] size and

[00:12:39] strength as

[00:12:40] their primary

[00:12:41] weapons.

[00:12:41] Their axes

[00:12:42] cleaved

[00:12:43] through the

[00:12:43] air like

[00:12:44] thunder

[00:12:44] their hammers

[00:12:45] smashing

[00:12:46] with the

[00:12:46] intent to

[00:12:47] break bones

[00:12:48] while their

[00:12:49] spears

[00:12:49] striking

[00:12:50] with an

[00:12:51] unyielding

[00:12:52] speed.

[00:12:53] Dributunga

[00:12:53] was suddenly

[00:12:54] awestruck

[00:12:54] as they

[00:12:55] all seemed

[00:12:55] like waterfalls

[00:12:56] and rapids

[00:12:56] to him.

[00:12:57] He could

[00:12:57] hear his

[00:12:58] heartbeat

[00:12:58] thud

[00:12:59] against his

[00:12:59] chest

[00:13:00] and then

[00:13:00] a faint

[00:13:01] humming

[00:13:01] sound.

[00:13:02] Before he

[00:13:03] knew it

[00:13:03] an ancient

[00:13:04] hymn filled

[00:13:05] his head.

[00:13:06] He had

[00:13:06] heard this

[00:13:07] hymn all

[00:13:07] his life

[00:13:08] so it

[00:13:09] did not

[00:13:10] come as

[00:13:10] a surprise.

[00:13:11] The only

[00:13:12] thing that

[00:13:12] felt different

[00:13:13] now was

[00:13:14] that his

[00:13:15] being

[00:13:15] resonated

[00:13:16] with

[00:13:17] that hymn.

[00:13:32] while all

[00:13:33] this was

[00:13:33] happening

[00:13:33] inside his

[00:13:34] mind,

[00:13:34] outside,

[00:13:35] the rumble

[00:13:35] was in full

[00:13:36] flow.

[00:13:36] As the

[00:13:37] first mercenary

[00:13:37] lunged at

[00:13:38] him with

[00:13:38] a massive

[00:13:39] axe,

[00:13:40] Dributunga

[00:13:40] barely moved.

[00:13:41] He stood

[00:13:42] perfectly still,

[00:13:43] his eyes

[00:13:43] calm,

[00:13:44] his breath

[00:13:44] slow.

[00:13:45] In a fluid

[00:13:45] motion,

[00:13:46] he sidestepped,

[00:13:47] letting the

[00:13:48] axe swing

[00:13:48] past him

[00:13:49] harmlessly,

[00:13:50] then reached

[00:13:50] out with one

[00:13:51] hand to

[00:13:51] deflect the

[00:13:52] strike firmly.

[00:13:53] The mercenary

[00:13:53] stumbled,

[00:13:54] caught off guard.

[00:13:55] Before he could

[00:13:56] recover,

[00:13:57] Dributunga's

[00:13:57] other hand

[00:13:58] gently nudged

[00:13:58] him angularly

[00:13:59] towards another

[00:14:00] oncoming mercenary.

[00:14:01] The full force

[00:14:02] of the first

[00:14:02] warrior was

[00:14:03] directed at

[00:14:04] the second

[00:14:04] one.

[00:14:05] The onlookers

[00:14:05] gasped in

[00:14:06] disbelief.

[00:14:07] How could

[00:14:07] such a slight

[00:14:08] figure,

[00:14:09] almost fragile

[00:14:09] in appearance,

[00:14:10] hold his

[00:14:11] ground against

[00:14:11] these towering

[00:14:12] muscle-bound

[00:14:13] titans?

[00:14:14] But it was

[00:14:14] not strength

[00:14:15] that Dributunga

[00:14:15] relied on.

[00:14:16] His mastery

[00:14:17] of the slow

[00:14:18] deliberate

[00:14:18] movements of

[00:14:19] Kaleripait,

[00:14:20] honed from

[00:14:20] these days

[00:14:21] of working

[00:14:21] with the

[00:14:21] elephants,

[00:14:22] whose sheer

[00:14:23] weight could

[00:14:23] crush even

[00:14:24] the mightiest

[00:14:25] if not

[00:14:25] carefully

[00:14:26] managed,

[00:14:27] gave him

[00:14:27] the ability

[00:14:28] to direct

[00:14:28] the attacker's

[00:14:29] ferocity.

[00:14:31] When another

[00:14:32] mercenary swung

[00:14:33] his hammer

[00:14:34] with the speed

[00:14:34] of a falling

[00:14:35] mountain,

[00:14:36] Dributunga

[00:14:37] pivoted gracefully

[00:14:38] guiding the

[00:14:38] blow further

[00:14:39] downward.

[00:14:39] The mercenary,

[00:14:40] now vulnerable,

[00:14:41] struggled to

[00:14:41] regain his

[00:14:42] balance,

[00:14:42] but it was

[00:14:43] too late.

[00:14:44] Before the

[00:14:44] axe hit the

[00:14:45] ground,

[00:14:46] Dributunga

[00:14:46] had already

[00:14:47] scooped the

[00:14:48] wrist of the

[00:14:48] unstable

[00:14:49] warrior and

[00:14:50] turned him

[00:14:51] around his

[00:14:51] axis twice.

[00:14:53] Because of

[00:14:54] the momentum

[00:14:55] from the

[00:14:55] twirls,

[00:14:56] the heavy

[00:14:57] warrior and

[00:14:58] the force of

[00:14:59] his swung

[00:14:59] axe intact

[00:15:00] were still

[00:15:02] light and

[00:15:03] pillow-like

[00:15:03] for Dributunga.

[00:15:05] From the

[00:15:06] corner of

[00:15:07] his eye,

[00:15:07] Dributunga

[00:15:08] saw the

[00:15:09] fourth warrior

[00:15:09] come forward,

[00:15:11] brandishing

[00:15:12] twin maces.

[00:15:13] He threatened

[00:15:14] Dributunga with

[00:15:15] a deadly

[00:15:16] double hammer

[00:15:16] blow that

[00:15:17] could easily

[00:15:18] shatter even

[00:15:19] iron shields.

[00:15:21] Sidestepping

[00:15:21] with larger

[00:15:22] steps,

[00:15:23] Dributunga

[00:15:23] hurled the

[00:15:24] momentum of

[00:15:24] the twirling

[00:15:25] axe men

[00:15:25] into the

[00:15:26] path of the

[00:15:27] double maces.

[00:15:28] The mace-wielding

[00:15:29] warriors,

[00:15:29] anger and

[00:15:30] arrogance

[00:15:31] vanished

[00:15:31] instantly as

[00:15:32] his irresistible

[00:15:33] force seemed

[00:15:34] to meet an

[00:15:35] immovable

[00:15:36] object.

[00:15:37] Without

[00:15:38] losing a

[00:15:38] second,

[00:15:39] Dributunga

[00:15:39] with a

[00:15:39] swift movement

[00:15:40] disarmed both

[00:15:41] the mace-man

[00:15:42] and the

[00:15:42] axe-man.

[00:15:43] As the

[00:15:44] hammer went

[00:15:44] spinning away,

[00:15:45] the dazed

[00:15:46] mace-man felt

[00:15:47] his right

[00:15:48] hand quite

[00:15:48] empty for a

[00:15:49] brief moment.

[00:15:50] The next

[00:15:51] second,

[00:15:52] Dributunga

[00:15:52] had managed

[00:15:53] to throw

[00:15:53] the heavy

[00:15:54] axe-man on

[00:15:55] the mace-man

[00:15:56] and they

[00:15:56] both lay

[00:15:57] sprawled and

[00:15:58] unconscious in

[00:15:59] a pile.

[00:16:00] Soon,

[00:16:01] Dributunga

[00:16:01] stood amidst

[00:16:02] defeated warriors.

[00:16:03] His movement

[00:16:04] as graceful

[00:16:04] as the

[00:16:05] wind,

[00:16:05] even his

[00:16:05] clothes

[00:16:06] remained

[00:16:06] unruffled,

[00:16:07] his breathing

[00:16:08] steady,

[00:16:09] his expression

[00:16:09] unshaken.

[00:16:10] The crowd

[00:16:11] who had

[00:16:12] watched in

[00:16:12] awe could

[00:16:13] hardly believe

[00:16:14] what they

[00:16:15] had witnessed.

[00:16:15] A mere

[00:16:16] wisp of

[00:16:17] a man

[00:16:17] had deflected

[00:16:19] the raw

[00:16:19] force of

[00:16:20] brutal

[00:16:21] warriors

[00:16:21] redirecting

[00:16:22] their lethal

[00:16:23] attacks to

[00:16:23] their own

[00:16:24] destruction.

[00:16:25] Silence

[00:16:26] followed the

[00:16:27] battlefield.

[00:16:28] A stillness

[00:16:29] settled,

[00:16:30] broken only

[00:16:31] by the

[00:16:31] villagers'

[00:16:32] applause.

[00:16:32] Relief

[00:16:33] washed over

[00:16:34] them like

[00:16:34] a gentle

[00:16:35] tide.

[00:16:36] In their

[00:16:36] faces,

[00:16:37] he saw

[00:16:37] newfound

[00:16:38] hope and

[00:16:39] gratitude.

[00:16:40] In the

[00:16:41] midst of

[00:16:42] cheers,

[00:16:42] Dributunga

[00:16:43] suddenly felt

[00:16:44] a warm

[00:16:44] presence,

[00:16:45] a familiar

[00:16:46] presence.

[00:16:47] With a

[00:16:47] sharp breath

[00:16:48] of exclamation,

[00:16:49] Dributunga

[00:16:49] looked around.

[00:16:51] Dributunga?

[00:16:54] Did he

[00:16:55] hear it?

[00:16:55] Yes,

[00:16:56] he did.

[00:16:57] And now

[00:16:58] again,

[00:16:59] that divine

[00:17:00] giggle,

[00:17:01] an ethereal

[00:17:01] echo,

[00:17:02] reminiscent of

[00:17:03] the temple,

[00:17:04] reminding him

[00:17:05] of his

[00:17:05] beloved

[00:17:05] Mother

[00:17:06] Divine.

[00:17:07] He looked

[00:17:08] around.

[00:17:08] Did he

[00:17:09] catch a

[00:17:09] glimpse of

[00:17:10] a young

[00:17:11] girl's

[00:17:11] face among

[00:17:12] the cheering

[00:17:12] villagers?

[00:17:13] He quickly

[00:17:14] got down

[00:17:15] and wove

[00:17:15] through the

[00:17:16] crowd,

[00:17:17] the giggle

[00:17:17] and the

[00:17:18] pitter-patter

[00:17:18] of her

[00:17:19] little feet

[00:17:19] still resonating

[00:17:20] like thunder

[00:17:20] clap in the

[00:17:21] rain in his

[00:17:22] ears.

[00:17:23] But she

[00:17:24] was nowhere

[00:17:24] to be found.

[00:17:25] He stood

[00:17:26] resignedly

[00:17:27] amidst the

[00:17:27] cheering masses

[00:17:28] looking into

[00:17:29] the skies

[00:17:29] with tears

[00:17:30] in his

[00:17:31] eyes.

[00:17:32] As he

[00:17:33] stood among

[00:17:33] his people,

[00:17:34] understanding

[00:17:35] dawned.

[00:17:36] He was

[00:17:36] more than

[00:17:37] a king.

[00:17:37] He was

[00:17:38] a guardian

[00:17:39] bound to

[00:17:40] his people

[00:17:40] by invisible

[00:17:42] threads

[00:17:42] stronger than

[00:17:43] any regal

[00:17:44] duty.

[00:17:45] Embracing

[00:17:46] this path

[00:17:47] with humility,

[00:17:48] Triputunga

[00:17:49] Varman

[00:17:49] Pallavan

[00:17:50] vowed to

[00:17:51] remain at

[00:17:52] the side of

[00:17:52] his people.

[00:17:53] Granddad

[00:17:54] used to

[00:17:54] tell us

[00:17:54] that the

[00:17:55] Pallavan

[00:17:55] sold his

[00:17:56] horse and

[00:17:56] with that

[00:17:57] money built

[00:17:58] a humbled

[00:17:59] smithy for

[00:18:00] making various

[00:18:00] tools for

[00:18:01] building the

[00:18:02] galleons and

[00:18:02] weapons and

[00:18:03] fasteners for

[00:18:04] the ships that

[00:18:04] were made at

[00:18:05] the port.

[00:18:05] Since the

[00:18:06] villagers kept

[00:18:07] insisting,

[00:18:07] Triputunga

[00:18:08] chose a life

[00:18:09] of service,

[00:18:10] teaching

[00:18:10] Kalaripaita

[00:18:11] to the

[00:18:11] village youth.

[00:18:12] He shared

[00:18:13] the art of

[00:18:15] gentle strength,

[00:18:16] an enduring

[00:18:17] legacy from

[00:18:18] the Divine

[00:18:18] Mother.

[00:18:19] It was a

[00:18:19] gift,

[00:18:20] weaving balance

[00:18:22] and grace

[00:18:22] into the

[00:18:23] world.

[00:18:24] Appa,

[00:18:25] wait,

[00:18:25] wait,

[00:18:25] wait.

[00:18:26] Why is

[00:18:26] the story

[00:18:27] ending here?

[00:18:28] This is so

[00:18:28] unfair.

[00:18:29] You do this

[00:18:30] every time.

[00:18:32] What,

[00:18:32] Pa?

[00:18:33] What happened?

[00:18:34] You finally

[00:18:35] know why

[00:18:36] Triputunga went

[00:18:36] to Veerampatnam.

[00:18:37] That's all that

[00:18:38] matters,

[00:18:38] isn't it?

[00:18:40] Not even

[00:18:41] close.

[00:18:42] Duh.

[00:18:43] Where is

[00:18:43] this place,

[00:18:44] Pa?

[00:18:44] I don't see

[00:18:45] Vilva Nallur

[00:18:46] on the map

[00:18:47] at all.

[00:18:48] Hmm,

[00:18:49] you're right.

[00:18:50] Vilva Nallur

[00:18:51] has changed

[00:18:52] to Viljanur.

[00:18:53] Look,

[00:18:54] look in the

[00:18:54] map next

[00:18:55] to Pondicherry.

[00:18:56] See there?

[00:18:56] See down

[00:18:57] there?

[00:18:58] Viljanur

[00:18:59] is a town

[00:19:00] located in

[00:19:00] the union

[00:19:00] territory of

[00:19:01] Puducherry

[00:19:01] in India.

[00:19:02] It is

[00:19:03] situated about

[00:19:03] 9 kilometers

[00:19:04] south of

[00:19:04] Pondicherry,

[00:19:05] which is

[00:19:06] basically

[00:19:06] Puducherry

[00:19:07] city.

[00:19:09] Ah,

[00:19:10] I see it.

[00:19:11] Viljanur.

[00:19:12] But wait,

[00:19:14] I have

[00:19:14] another one

[00:19:15] for you,

[00:19:15] Pa.

[00:19:15] How did

[00:19:16] Mother

[00:19:17] Balambikey

[00:19:17] know about

[00:19:18] the invaders

[00:19:19] so ahead

[00:19:20] of time?

[00:19:21] What was

[00:19:22] the need

[00:19:22] for the

[00:19:23] elephant

[00:19:23] seva days?

[00:19:24] Why should

[00:19:25] he do

[00:19:26] the elephant

[00:19:27] service

[00:19:27] before?

[00:19:28] Amma

[00:19:29] could have

[00:19:29] just taught

[00:19:30] him that

[00:19:30] Tai Chi

[00:19:31] like

[00:19:31] kalari

[00:19:32] before itself

[00:19:33] without any

[00:19:34] torture to

[00:19:34] him,

[00:19:35] isn't it?

[00:19:36] Papa,

[00:19:37] Balambika

[00:19:38] is timeless.

[00:19:39] She already

[00:19:40] told us

[00:19:40] so in the

[00:19:41] story,

[00:19:41] isn't it?

[00:19:42] She must

[00:19:43] also know

[00:19:43] that if

[00:19:44] the knowledge

[00:19:45] of slow

[00:19:45] kalari

[00:19:45] was just

[00:19:47] taught to

[00:19:48] Nripatunga

[00:19:48] Varman,

[00:19:49] he wouldn't

[00:19:49] understand the

[00:19:50] need or

[00:19:51] the situation

[00:19:52] to use the

[00:19:53] soft martial

[00:19:53] art,

[00:19:54] isn't it?

[00:19:55] The

[00:19:55] Pallavan

[00:19:56] needed an

[00:19:56] insurmountable

[00:19:58] vocation like

[00:19:58] herding elephants

[00:19:59] on whom brute

[00:20:01] strength would

[00:20:01] never work.

[00:20:03] Plus,

[00:20:04] we know

[00:20:04] Nripatunga

[00:20:05] was hot-headed

[00:20:06] and restless

[00:20:07] to begin with.

[00:20:08] The service

[00:20:08] would calm

[00:20:09] his nerves.

[00:20:10] The villagers

[00:20:11] and their

[00:20:11] innocent

[00:20:12] pestering

[00:20:12] would teach

[00:20:13] him patience.

[00:20:14] He should

[00:20:15] use his

[00:20:15] strength

[00:20:16] but then

[00:20:17] realize the

[00:20:17] futility of

[00:20:18] it as well.

[00:20:19] He should

[00:20:19] just give

[00:20:20] up on his

[00:20:21] physical

[00:20:21] prowess as

[00:20:22] a result.

[00:20:23] It was

[00:20:23] then that

[00:20:24] he would

[00:20:24] see the

[00:20:25] dripping

[00:20:25] ceiling in

[00:20:26] the elephant

[00:20:26] stable.

[00:20:27] Like Archimedes

[00:20:28] needed,

[00:20:28] the tub for

[00:20:29] his buoyancy

[00:20:30] discovery,

[00:20:31] Vilvanalur,

[00:20:32] was an

[00:20:32] essential

[00:20:32] part of

[00:20:33] the

[00:20:33] Pallavan's

[00:20:34] training.

[00:20:35] Okay,

[00:20:36] fine.

[00:20:36] But tell

[00:20:37] me one

[00:20:38] thing.

[00:20:38] How in

[00:20:39] the world

[00:20:40] is all

[00:20:40] of this

[00:20:41] related to

[00:20:42] my craving

[00:20:42] for crunchies

[00:20:43] and eating

[00:20:44] them when

[00:20:45] it feels

[00:20:46] like eating

[00:20:46] them?

[00:20:47] I can't

[00:20:48] see that

[00:20:48] for the

[00:20:49] love of

[00:20:49] God.

[00:20:51] Okay,

[00:20:52] now that's

[00:20:52] a fair

[00:20:53] question.

[00:20:53] Now you

[00:20:54] see,

[00:20:54] did you

[00:20:55] notice how

[00:20:55] we spoke

[00:20:56] about your

[00:20:56] cravings

[00:20:57] are basically

[00:20:58] sounds from

[00:20:59] your stomach

[00:20:59] when your

[00:21:00] bad bacteria

[00:21:01] are starved

[00:21:01] and demand

[00:21:02] sustenance?

[00:21:04] Yes,

[00:21:05] pa.

[00:21:06] Driputunga

[00:21:07] heard the

[00:21:07] cries of his

[00:21:08] people and

[00:21:09] rushed to

[00:21:09] his rescue.

[00:21:10] He heard

[00:21:11] the bellows

[00:21:11] of the

[00:21:12] invaders and

[00:21:12] fought with

[00:21:13] them.

[00:21:13] Your body

[00:21:14] will also

[00:21:14] do this

[00:21:15] but you

[00:21:15] need to

[00:21:16] practice

[00:21:16] awareness

[00:21:17] and the

[00:21:18] right form

[00:21:19] of calorie.

[00:21:19] The calorie

[00:21:20] of eating

[00:21:21] aware and

[00:21:22] reading labels

[00:21:23] before eating

[00:21:24] anything.

[00:21:24] Your spiritual

[00:21:25] practices will

[00:21:26] earn you

[00:21:27] your awareness.

[00:21:28] It is your

[00:21:28] calorie and

[00:21:29] eating something

[00:21:30] that feeds

[00:21:31] the good

[00:21:31] bacteria instead

[00:21:32] is like

[00:21:32] finding an

[00:21:33] alternate

[00:21:34] crunchy.

[00:21:34] like carrots

[00:21:35] or prebiotics

[00:21:36] like sweet

[00:21:36] potatoes or

[00:21:37] raw bananas.

[00:21:39] Oh,

[00:21:40] okay pa,

[00:21:41] wait.

[00:21:42] And

[00:21:42] balaam

[00:21:42] be

[00:21:43] kay,

[00:21:43] amma?

[00:21:43] What is

[00:21:44] the symbolism

[00:21:45] there?

[00:21:46] Well,

[00:21:47] that's self

[00:21:48] explanatory,

[00:21:48] isn't it?

[00:21:49] Have faith

[00:21:49] that the

[00:21:50] universe will

[00:21:51] always send

[00:21:51] up help

[00:21:52] because it

[00:21:53] is always

[00:21:53] watching you.

[00:21:54] That is the

[00:21:55] core symbolism

[00:21:56] behind this

[00:21:56] story.

[00:21:58] What a

[00:21:59] lovely story,

[00:22:00] pa.

[00:22:00] It is just

[00:22:02] so awesome

[00:22:03] to hear.

[00:22:03] Which part

[00:22:04] do you like

[00:22:05] the most,

[00:22:06] Bharat,

[00:22:06] uncle?

[00:22:08] Well,

[00:22:09] I love

[00:22:10] that a

[00:22:10] king can

[00:22:11] be so

[00:22:11] humble and

[00:22:12] do a

[00:22:12] mundane

[00:22:12] task of

[00:22:13] bathing

[00:22:14] an elephant.

[00:22:15] If he

[00:22:15] can rule

[00:22:16] a kingdom

[00:22:16] and also

[00:22:17] do a

[00:22:17] mundane

[00:22:18] task with

[00:22:18] equal

[00:22:19] enthusiasm,

[00:22:20] that is

[00:22:21] such a

[00:22:21] balanced

[00:22:21] state of

[00:22:22] mind to

[00:22:22] be in.

[00:22:23] I believe

[00:22:24] that he

[00:22:24] is able

[00:22:25] to do

[00:22:25] any

[00:22:25] task,

[00:22:26] big or

[00:22:27] small,

[00:22:27] to

[00:22:27] perfection

[00:22:28] only because

[00:22:29] he is

[00:22:29] looking at

[00:22:30] it as

[00:22:30] God's

[00:22:30] work.

[00:22:31] No

[00:22:32] work is

[00:22:32] small for

[00:22:33] him and

[00:22:33] he gives

[00:22:34] his best.

[00:22:35] Also,

[00:22:36] when the

[00:22:37] call comes,

[00:22:38] he is

[00:22:38] ready to

[00:22:39] leave whatever

[00:22:39] he is

[00:22:40] doing and

[00:22:41] take on

[00:22:41] responsibility

[00:22:42] for the

[00:22:42] larger

[00:22:43] good.

[00:22:43] So,

[00:22:44] when the

[00:22:44] time comes,

[00:22:45] even the

[00:22:46] most daunting

[00:22:47] task doesn't

[00:22:48] deter him.

[00:22:49] He shows

[00:22:49] equal enthusiasm

[00:22:51] towards that

[00:22:51] as well and

[00:22:53] most importantly

[00:22:54] considers that

[00:22:55] also as

[00:22:56] God's

[00:22:56] work.

[00:22:57] This

[00:22:57] attitude of

[00:22:58] service,

[00:22:58] to be

[00:22:59] available is

[00:23:00] what makes

[00:23:01] him a

[00:23:01] great king.

[00:23:02] In today's

[00:23:03] corporate world,

[00:23:04] young graduates

[00:23:05] and freshers who

[00:23:06] enter the

[00:23:07] industry often

[00:23:08] exhibit an

[00:23:09] urgency for

[00:23:10] high returns

[00:23:11] and don't

[00:23:11] focus on

[00:23:12] what is

[00:23:13] really expected

[00:23:14] of them.

[00:23:14] There is animbusable

[00:23:16] lack of accountability as

[00:23:18] a result.

[00:23:18] I see this story

[00:23:20] teaching all these

[00:23:21] youngsters the

[00:23:22] importance of

[00:23:23] enthusiasm and

[00:23:25] accountability over

[00:23:26] returns and

[00:23:27] remuneration.

[00:23:28] And this,

[00:23:29] like I said

[00:23:29] in the

[00:23:30] beginning,

[00:23:30] is all about

[00:23:31] that balanced

[00:23:32] state of

[00:23:32] mind.

[00:23:36] But

[00:23:36] Appa,

[00:23:37] what happens

[00:23:38] to Nriputunga?

[00:23:39] As a result

[00:23:40] of being in

[00:23:41] Virampattinam,

[00:23:42] did anything

[00:23:43] else happen?

[00:23:46] Of course

[00:23:46] it happened,

[00:23:47] Pa.

[00:23:47] You remember

[00:23:48] the boy in

[00:23:49] Nriputunga

[00:23:49] says first

[00:23:50] when he lands

[00:23:51] in Virampattinam?

[00:23:53] Yes,

[00:23:54] Pa.

[00:23:55] You know

[00:23:56] what happened

[00:23:56] to him?

[00:23:56] Years later,

[00:23:58] that very

[00:23:59] boy,

[00:23:59] whose name

[00:24:00] is Maravan,

[00:24:00] becomes a

[00:24:02] strong and

[00:24:03] able-bodied

[00:24:03] helping hand

[00:24:04] on the

[00:24:04] port.

[00:24:05] Maravan travels

[00:24:06] along with

[00:24:07] various vessels

[00:24:08] to various

[00:24:08] ports around

[00:24:09] the world.

[00:24:09] The Pallava

[00:24:10] dynasty is

[00:24:11] well known

[00:24:11] to have

[00:24:12] done trade

[00:24:12] with China,

[00:24:13] Bali,

[00:24:14] Indonesia,

[00:24:14] Sumatra and

[00:24:15] even countries

[00:24:16] in the

[00:24:16] Oceana

[00:24:16] archipelago.

[00:24:17] While the

[00:24:18] trade ship

[00:24:19] was once

[00:24:19] in China,

[00:24:20] Maravan and

[00:24:21] his mates

[00:24:22] were approached

[00:24:22] by a strange

[00:24:23] Chinese warrior,

[00:24:24] a warrior

[00:24:25] who had

[00:24:25] only a

[00:24:26] left hand.

[00:24:27] The Chinese

[00:24:28] warrior seemed

[00:24:28] to have

[00:24:29] lost his

[00:24:29] right hand.

[00:24:30] He was

[00:24:30] groggy and

[00:24:31] dizzy,

[00:24:31] but wonders

[00:24:32] are wonders.

[00:24:33] In such a

[00:24:34] state,

[00:24:34] someone would

[00:24:35] normally ask

[00:24:36] for food,

[00:24:37] isn't it?

[00:24:37] They would

[00:24:38] beg for food,

[00:24:38] but this man

[00:24:40] begged for

[00:24:40] someone to

[00:24:41] teach him

[00:24:41] martial arts.

[00:24:43] The man

[00:24:44] kept wandering

[00:24:45] inside the

[00:24:45] port,

[00:24:45] going from

[00:24:46] person to

[00:24:46] person,

[00:24:47] crying,

[00:24:48] please teach

[00:24:48] me your

[00:24:49] martial arts,

[00:24:50] teach me

[00:24:50] how to

[00:24:51] fight,

[00:24:51] I need

[00:24:51] a teacher.

[00:24:53] Maravan's

[00:24:53] friends were

[00:24:54] also puzzled.

[00:24:54] So Maravan

[00:24:55] takes pity

[00:24:56] on the

[00:24:56] Chinese warrior

[00:24:56] and agrees

[00:24:57] to take him

[00:24:58] to Nriputunga.

[00:24:59] This becomes

[00:25:00] the next

[00:25:00] exciting chapter

[00:25:01] of Nriputunga

[00:25:02] Verman's

[00:25:02] life.

[00:25:03] What happens

[00:25:04] to the

[00:25:04] Chinese warrior?

[00:25:05] Does Nriputunga

[00:25:06] help?

[00:25:07] Does the

[00:25:07] Chinese warrior

[00:25:08] recognize

[00:25:09] Nriputunga

[00:25:09] Verman?

[00:25:10] Yes,

[00:25:11] pa,

[00:25:11] does he?

[00:25:12] Does he?

[00:25:13] Hear it

[00:25:14] first.

[00:25:15] On

[00:25:16] Ancient

[00:25:16] Anecdotes

[00:25:17] On

[00:25:19] your favorite

[00:25:19] podcast,

[00:25:20] streaming

[00:25:20] providers,

[00:25:21] tune in

[00:25:22] for a

[00:25:22] brand new

[00:25:23] episode.