The next day, Prabhavati again asked the parrot for permission.

Parrot:
«Go, O maiden, if you know how to answer,» like Balapandita, who found herself in dire straits in the state council.

In response to Prabhavati’s question, the parrot told a story:

«There is a city called Ujjayini. Its ruler was Vikrama-Aditya, the Broad-Striding Sun. His wife, Kamalila, the Joy of Love, came from the most noble family. The ruler loved her immensely. One day, while the ruler was dining with her, he ordered her to be offered fried fish.

Kamalila said to him:
«O my husband, I cannot even glance at these ‘men,’ much less touch them.» Hearing this, the fish burst into such loud laughter that the townspeople heard it.

The ruler began questioning his advisors, astrologers, and fortune tellers about the cause of the fish’s laughter. When it became clear that no one knew anything, he ordered the most learned of all, the high priest, the purohita:
«Either you tell me why the fish were laughing, or you will be banished from the country.» The purohita, hearing this, asked for five days to think it over and went home in deep sorrow.

This purohita, unable to answer, will be banished by the ruler of the city. What should he do? «That is the question.»