The next day, Prabhavati said to the parrot:
«Shuka, has the lord understood the meaning of the fishes’ laughter?»

The parrot replied:
«The lord has lost sleep, trying unsuccessfully to understand the meaning of the verses. It is said, after all:
«What kind of sleep do those, O dear one, tormented by debt, illness, disobedient wives, or enemies have?!»

Having spent a sleepless night in agony, the lord summoned Balapandita the next morning and said to her:
«Girl, I still haven’t deciphered the verse. Therefore, tell me the reason for the fishes’ laughter.»

She replied:
«Don’t ask me, O lord, for
«Here you will have to repent, as happened to the merchant’s wife, who persistently questioned her husband about the origin of the rice cakes.»

The lord asked:
«How was it?»

Shuka:
— In these parts there is a city named Jayanti, the City of Victory. There lived a merchant’s son, Sumati, the Prudent, with his wife, Padmini, the Lily. Having suffered losses in goods, he lost his wealth. Everyone abandoned him: for people are friends of money. It is said:
«Whoever has wealth has friends; whoever has wealth has relatives; whoever has wealth enjoys this world; whoever has wealth is learned.»