________________
254
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[DECEMBER, 1914.
At length, however, there arose, from amidst the assembly, a solitary figure, a man with a majestic manly grace, just in the prime of manhood, with a fine physique and soldierly bearing, an object of admiration to one and all. To the astonishment of the whole audience, Visvanatha-for it was he-spoke with grave, though justifiable, censure of the perfidy of his parent, assured his sovereign of his own loyalty and gratitude, and prayed with earnestness that he should be honoured with the command against him. The emperor at first hesitated with a natural suspicion and scepticism ; but the bold and honest behaviour of the young hero, the eloquence of his pressing solicitation and the strength of his past reputation convinced Sadasiva that his favourite was a fit object of his confidence, and that, in case he was chosen, his sense of loyalty would prevail over his filial affection.
The Restoration of Chandra-Sekhara. It thus happened that, by a strange irony of fate, the man who was most instrumental in thwarting Nâgama's designs was his own son and heir-that son for whose birth he had, years back, devoted himself to much rigorous penance and extravagant self-infliction ; that heir for whose sake he had, at the evening of an honest and unblemished life, sacrificed his honesty, banished his conscience, and blackened his fair name. With unexpected celerity Visvanatha marched at the head of the imperial forces. He promptly entered the confines of Madura, and after a fruitless correspondence with his father, engaged him in battle. The chronicles do not enlighten us as to the site of this remarkable engagement; but they describe how Visvanatha, partly because of the justice of his cause and the excellence of his leadership, but mainly because it is said) of his divine birth, emerged successfully out of the contest. Nâgama himself was taken captive, and his forces either vanished or went over to his son. Chandra-Sekhara, whose weakness was the sole cause of these events, was then restored to the throne and crowned by his deliverer with pomp and ceremony.
The Pardon of Nagama Naik. It seems that, immediately after the restoration of Chandra-Sekhara. Visvanatha returned to Vijayanagar,-leaving a capable friend and lieutenant of his, Aryanatha Mudali s3 by name, to stay in the Madura court and represents+, in his name, the imperial interests. No sooner did the gallant soldier return to the Court than, we are informed, he shewed to an admiring world that his loyalty to his sovereign was not at the expense of his love for his parent. His sole desire now was to save his life and, as might be expected, he did not fail to avail himself of the good impression he had produced, by his unrivalled political sincerity, in the mind of Sadasiva Raya. He pleaded that the fidelity of the son should atone for the guilt of the father. He expatiated, we may be sure, on the past history and services of Nagama, and pointed out how his disgrace would necessarily cast a stain on his own name, and how posterity, while praising his loyalty, would in the same breath condemn him as a parricide. The emperor, we are told, too prudent to pursue a vin dictive policy, perceived that his clemency would have a healthier effect than his zeal for justice. He therefore pardonod Nagama, and restored him to his old position. One of the manuscript chronicles86 gives a different picture of Visvanatha's conduct after his return from the south. It says that Nâgama Naik was brought in chains before the indignant emperor, and ordered to be decapitated ; that
83 For the early part of his career see Chap. III. 51 c. f. thy Mirtanjiya MSS. Appendix I. $5 See Appendix IV.
