And when she, consumed with curiosity at the parrot’s words, remained sitting at home, the parrot began its story:

«There is a city called Chandravati, shining like the full moon. It was ruled by a king named Bhima, the Fearer of Foes. A certain rich merchant’s son named Mohana, the Trickster-Seducer, desired to succumb to Lakshmi, the Excellent, the Bringer of Love and Wealth, the wife of Haridatta, a local resident, Bogdan, a devotee of the luminary Vishnu. But she, oh dear ones, refused. Then he went to a procuress named Purna, the Half-Nuha, who supposedly fasted for months, and paid her a handsome sum. When Haridatta left the city, he sent her to Lakshmi’s house on an ambassadorial mission. Purna, with flattering words, won Lakshmi’s favor.

«I will do whatever you ask,» said the good-natured Lakshmi. Purna replied,

«Then accept the man I have chosen to my liking.»

She replied, «This is not proper for married women, but since I have promised, I will accept.»

It is said:

Good people, when they fulfill their promises, care nothing:

Even if their heads are cut off, or they are locked up anywhere, or deprived of all happiness.

And also:

For a good man, the bonds of duty are stronger than iron chains and any horse tethers.

And to this day, Hara, the Destroyer of Worlds, does not release from himself the poison he swallowed, Kalakuta, the End of Time; and the tortoise still carries the Earth, the Kingdom of the Firmament, on its back.

And the Reservoir bears within itself the hard-to-bear fire of Vadavu, the Water One, like the golden-maned mare Zarya. The virtuous fulfill their promises.

Hearing this, Purna rejoiced:
«Exactly!»