One evening in the summer season, two travelers were walking towards the city of Kanji in a Rajapattai (A royal path often used by king) along the shore of Mahendra Lake. One of them was the saffron-robed Buddhist monk who grew to over six feet tall. Due to rituals or other difficult activities, the body of that Buddhist monk became dry and hardened. His countenance did not inspire love or devotion, but a kind of fear.
Another traveler was a young eighteen-year-old boy with a well-built body and an elegant face.
Both the travelers looked tired after traveling a long distance.
"How far is the capital?" asked the young man.
"There" the Monk pointed out, and between the dense trees, the planes of the lofts were seen. Young traveler stared at the scene for a while. Then, looking at Buddhist monk, he asked, “Is it one nazhigai distance from here?” He asked. (60 Nazhigai = 1 day, 1 Nazhigai = 24 minutes)
“That will be it.”
“Well then, I'll just take small rest and leave. If it's urgent, you can go ahead!” Saying that, the young man put down the bundle and stick in his hand by the side of the path and sat down looking at the lake.
The monk also sat near him facing the west.
At the bottom of the upper sky, the golden sun was spinning like Thirumal's Chakrayutha (means whirling disk-like weapon used by Lord Vishnu) Small cloud clusters appeared to be on fire due to its red glow. Towards the setting sun, the clear marble like water of Mahendra Lake shone like molten gold.
But a little back to the west, the lake water looked dark blue as the long evening shadow of the small hills that stood guard over the lake shores fell over the lake. It is a beautiful scene with black water below, dark blue sky above and dark green hills behind.
The boy, who was watching all this in silence for a while, as if talking to himself, “It is not suitable to call this great lake a Mahendra Lake; everyone should say Mahendra ocean!” He said.
The Monk looking towards the lake, “The water in this Mahendra lake has reduced now. If you see in Aipassi, Karthigai months (7th and 8th month of the Tamil calender) when it rains and the lake will be full, you will be amazed! Then it will be like a real ocean!” He got up saying that.
“Have you left, Swami?” said the boy.
“Yes, Paranjothi! You don't seem to like coming with me!” The monk said and started walking.
A young man named Paranjothi also took a bundle and a stick and followed him.
To be continued…
