This is the first time in this long Legend of Ponnivala story where a question of social justice, a matter with extensive modern implications, appears. When Kolatta offers his wife’s labour, alongside his own, the king responds by raising the total payment he promises in return. He offers only 16 measures of grain a month for Kolatta’s labour, but 20 if his wife joins him. This is just a 25% increase! Is that fair recognition of what his wife can/will contribute by adding her labour? Let us leave this question aside for a moment and first examine some other aspects of the interaction between this (unnamed) Chola ruler and his newly arrived visitor.
