Since you persistently ask me why the fish laughed, you also ask this minister about their laughter. He will tell you why he himself doesn’t laugh and why the fish laugh.»

According to her suggestion, the Raja presented Minister Pushpahasa with a new robe, seated him on the ministerial chair, and asked what the fishes were laughing about.

The minister replied, «It is not advisable to talk about domestic troubles, for there is a saying:
A wise man should not speak to others of his financial losses, his mental suffering, his domestic troubles, his deceptions, and his humiliations.

However, the Raja’s command is a great matter as

the Lord does not even cast a lustful glance at evil objects. Why so insistently demand the fulfillment of a worthy command?

The light, called the lord of subjects, which is the essence of sovereign wisdom, surpassing in brilliance Aditya and Agni, is always victorious like Indra.

So, my lord! My wife fell in love with another man. I learned of this, And how can one not laugh at such grief!?»

Hearing this, the Raja struck his wife with a bunch of flowers and looked her in the face. She pretended to faint from this blow. Pushpahasa, seeing this, laughed and produced a bunch of flowers.

Then the Raja, having calmed the Brahmin’s daughter Balapandita looking at her face, angrily said to the minister, «How dare you laugh at our misfortune?»

The minister, in fear  raising folded palms, said: «Raja, last night a servant beat your queen with a stick, and she did not faint, but now she has. That is what I find funny.»

The Raja angrily asked, «Minister, did you see this yourself or do you know from hearsay?»

«I saw it, sir,» replied the minister. «If you do not believe it, then let her remove her dress, and you see.»