Summary

In Chapter 18, when Krishna returned after six years of military conquest, he found Bisnaga had become the place of Pampa’s dreams (267). Pampa had also built the Conquest of the World Pavilion, to show Tirumala that she was “the real power in the land” (269).

Shortly after the king and queen’s return, “the drought began” (269). Krishna's “bouts of bad temper” worsened (269). He became desperate to conquer more lands. When he left on these conquests, Pampa “was Queen Regent again” (271). Meanwhile, an inexplicable sickness killed “people all over Bisnaga” (271). Tirumala’s son fell ill and died. When Krishna returned, he accused Pampa of making herself “queen of [the people’s] hearts” to clear her path to the throne (274). He had her and Timmarasu blinded with “hot iron rods” (274).

In Chapter 19, blindness “erased time” for Pampa (277). One day, Krishna visited her and begged...