Ponniyin Selvan: Book 1
Completed Fiction
Historical Fiction
11.1K reads
1.7K votes
57 parts
788 min read
0 comments
The Chola empire is at its height, but beneath the splendor, a conspiracy is stirring to topple the ageing emperor and his sons. Vandiyathevan, a dashing young envoy, rides out carrying a secret message, unaware that he is about to be pulled into a web of court intrigue, forbidden love, and a plot decades in the making. Along the way he meets Kundavai, the emperor's brilliant daughter, and Nandini, a woman whose beauty conceals old wounds and older schemes. Kalki's sweeping historical epic, adored across generations of Tamil readers, opens a saga of empire, loyalty, and betrayal on the grandest scale.
Last updated August 4, 2026 · Public Domain
More options
Table of Contents
1
Auspicious Aadi
2
Azhwarkkadiyaan Nambi
3
The Vinnagara Temple
4
The Kadambur Palace
5
The Kuravai Koothu
6
A Meeting at Midnight
7
Of Mirth— and Consequences
8
“Who is in the Palanquin?”
9
Conversations by the Wayside
10
The Astrologer of Kudandhai
11
Explosive Entrances
12
Nandhini
13
The Waxing Moon
14
The Crocodile on the Banks
15
Vaanathi’s Deceit
16
Arulmozhi Varmar
17
Of Galloping Horses
18
Idumbankaari
19
Murder, Mayhem, and a Forest of Terrors
20
The first foe!
21
The Rustling Curtain
22
The Velakkara Regiment
23
Amudhan’s Mother
24
Crows and Nightingales
25
Inside the Fort
26
“Abaayam! Abaayam!”
27
The Court Poets
28
An Iron Grip
29
“Our honoured guest…”
30
The Chithira Mandapam
31
“Thieves! Thieves!”
32
An Inquisition
33
A Maid in a Tree!
34
The Latha Mandapam
35
The Mandhiravadhi
36
“Do you remember?”
37
The Clash of Lions
38
Nandhini, the Coquette
39
Spinning Worlds
40
The Palace of Gloom
41
The Vault
42
The Mark of a True Friend
43
Pazhaiyarai
44
“This is all her doing!”
45
The Runaway Spy
46
The Masses Murmur
47
Eesana Siva Battar
48
Whirling Pools and Swirling Eyes
49
Wonder of wonders!
50
The Paranthakar Infirmary
51
Maamallapuram
52
Old men, and Marriages
53
Malayamaan’s Fury
54
Deadlier than venom, is she!
55
Nandhini’s Lover
56
The Anthappuram Incident
57
Maya Mohini
