The village chief detained Vishnu along with the seductress. When interrogated, Vishnu replied, “This woman is my wife. Seeing my wife on the road, this passerby decided to have sex with her.”

Govinda, when questioned, was told the same thing. The wise chief, hearing identical answers, began questioning them about their lineage and other matters. And the three’s testimonies matched. “How can this matter be resolved?” asked the parrot.

And to Prabhavati’s question, Shuka replied, “The wise man asked, ‘How long have you all been traveling together?’” They replied, “We met this morning after breakfast.”

Then the wise man asked each of the brahmins separately, “What did this woman eat for breakfast?”

Govinda knew that she had eaten, but the other did not. And he was ridiculed by the wise chief. Govinda received this instruction:

«Pshaw! Drive away this brahmin woman at once, who sows mischief here and there.» It is said:

«Those wise men who keep away from a drunkard physician; a poor actor; a foolish hermit; a cowardly warrior; an old womanizer; a brahmin ignorant of the Vedas;

a kingdom in which the king is a boy without an adviser; a friend who plots intrigues; a wife who is proud of her youth and infatuated with others.»

However, Govinda, enamoured of his beautiful woman, accepted her back and rode on, criticized by respectable people. On the way, he was killed because of her.

So, O radiant maiden, he who shows such disrespect for the instructions of the elders meets destruction, like the brahmin Govinda.

Having heard this story, Prabhavati fell asleep.

This is the fourth tale from the 70 instructions of Shuka the Parrot.