After Sevvandhi recited her poem, every one in the court gave her an ovation.
"Excellent poem, Sevvandhi. But, as you know, I am not proficient in literary appreciation, as my father was. So, you may explain the meaning of the verse to me" said Magizhmaran, smiling.
"Pardon me, Your Majesty. I think it will be better if the minister explains the meaning of this poem to you, rather than I do it" said Sevvandhi, looking at the minister with a smile. "And, I think it will be better if the minister explains it to you leisurely, when you are alone, relaxing. I seek Your Majesty's permission to leave."
"Wait! I have not yet given you the reward for this poem."
"It is alright, Your Majesty. I will take the reward, when I meet you next time."
Sevvandhi paid obeisance to the king by putting her palms together and left.
Magizhmaran began to reflect.
"Tell me, minister! What is the meaning of the poem read out by Sevvandhi?" Magizhmaran asked the minister, when the two were alone.
"The crops, withering due to the failure of the rain to arrive, are looking at the sky, craving for the rain drops to fall. But, there are only white clouds on the sky, not the dark clouds that would deliver rain. The citizens are looking at the king's sceptre. The sceptre is straight, but its shadow is crooked and looks like a dark cloud crawling on the ground. This is the meaning of the poem" said the minister.
"I understand the meaning of the verse, alright. But, I think the verse has a hidden meaning too. There have been no rains in our country. Not only the crops, but also the people are looking at the sky, hoping for the appearance of dark clouds that would deliver rain. I am aware of this. But, why does the poet bring in the sceptre here? What does she mean by saying that the sceptre is straight, but that its shadow is crooked? Does she refer to the the oppression of the heat generated due to the hot weather? Does the description of the shadow of the sceptre as resembling a dark cloud signify that the sceptre is compassionate? Or, is there any sarcasm in the verse? Why did the poet suggest that I get the meaning of the verse from you, when I would be alone?"
"Your Majesty! You may not like the explanation for the poem given by me. That is why the poet suggested that you hear it from me, when you are alone. The poet says that as crops are looking up to the sky and that citizens are looking up to the king's spectre, believing that it would protect them, but implies that this has not happened. That's why she says that though the spectre is straight, its shadow is crooked!"
The minister paused.
"What do you mean, minister" asked the king, shocked by the minister's explanation.
"Your Majesty! I have tried to being the situation to your notice, a few times. But since I adopted a cautious approach and only hinted at the issues, lest you shouldn't get upset, I have perhaps not conveyed the message to you, effectively."
"Whatever the issues are, tell me about them directly. I will hear you with an open mind."
"Your Majesty, you are a person with a heart of gold. But, some people close to you - people belonging to the royal family - have been indulging in certain wrongdoings, with the connivance of a few officials. When there is a severe famine in the country, officials have been adopting high-handed methods to force people to pay taxes. Some members of the royal family have been misusing the funds in the palace treasury and spending money lavishly on luxuries."
"Why didn't you stop such things from happening?" asked the king, angrily.
"Pardon me, Your Majesty! When things are done in Your Majesty's name, how can I stop them. The Treasurer told me that he was collecting taxes and authorizing expenses, as directed by Your Majesty. I know that Your Majesty wouldn't have authorized such things. But I was not sure, if I told Your Majesty that some members of the royal family have been indulging in such practices how would Your Majesty take it!"
"Oh! That's why the poet said 'the spectre is straight, but its shadow is crooked!' Does his comparing the shadow to a dark cloud convey that I am a person with compassion?"
"That is how I have understood it, Your Majesty!"
"Fine. I will reprimand my family members and ask them to be restrained. I will advise the Treasurer to stop collecting the taxes and distribute the grains in the palace granary to the poor. I will issue an order that government officials should not do anything, without getting the approval from me or you. Arrange for an early meeting of the king's court. Let us discuss how we can help people during this grim situation and ensure that their suffering is mitigated to the maximum possible extent."
"Thank you, Your Majesty. You have once again proved that your spectre would never bend. Like your father, you will also be held in high esteem and loved by the people" said the minister, feeling overwhelmed by the king's response.
"But, minister! I have a question?"
"What is it, Your Majesty?"
"Was the poem written by the poet on her own, or did someone suggested the theme of the poem to her?" asked the king, with a mischievous smile.
"Your Majesty! I have to carry out the tasks given to me by you. May I take your live?"
The minister bowed to the king and slipped away.
kOl nOkki vAzhum kudi.
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