The king said, “Bring her here.”
Before him the guard led her.
The king then asked her
“What for you’re here? “
Kannagi spoke:
“Listen oh king, I’ll tell,
There hangs a gate bell,
Installed by King Cholan
To ring and complain.”
“I’m from this Cholan’s Pugar City.
He was a king of justice and fair play.
His own son, he once killed,
When a calf, the son killed.”
“I married the son of Masathuvan,
The son’s name is Kovalan.
Kannagi is my name.
To sell my anklet he came.”
“He was killed by your guard.
I came here for justice, my lord.
The truth you don’t know.
The other anklet I want to show.”
SHE BROKE THE ANKLET
“Oh lady, to maintain justice
A thief was killed, it’s no offence.
This shows the king’s fair rule.”
He told her in a tone very cool.
“My lord, the anklet of mine,
Inside it contains rubies fine.”
“My lady, the anklet of mine,
Inside it contains pearls fine.”
To prove her side she broke.
A ruby stone shot at one stroke
Right on the king’s face as fire,
And then fell down on the floor.
THE KING AND QUEEN FELL DOWN
When the king saw the ruby,
He became very much shaky.
He cried, “I’ve fallen low.
My judgment failed now.”
“On the goldsmith’s complaint,
On my part with no restraint
I acted in haste, so I’m the thief,
Unfit to be this country’s chief.”
“The rule of Pandians is broken,
And I’ve become its reason.
Alas! Let me die, ” he said
And then fell down dead.
The queen worshiped his feet
And the same end she also met.
Justice was more than power
King or citizen whomsoever.
THE TRAGIC END
Those who did acts of injustice,
At the end, they’ll never meet justice.
The king’s judgment error
Took away three lives forever.
The king had his own fears,
When he saw Kannagi’s tears,
And his life he finally gave up,
When her case she took up.
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