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TRANSLATION
--- 333 1204. Said Madana-śalākā : “Tuņạika, you miserable wretch,
ingratitude is the action of dogs, it is not the way of
acting of beaked birds.' 1205. Again the parrot said: "Gentle Madanā, you are pure
and you do not know her hidden reasoning; for it has
been said : 1206. Again and again one should ponder what is the time and
place, who are one's friends, what the outlay and what
the profit, what one is and what is one's power. 1207. When one sees a powerful enemy one should not provoke
his violence but should use discretion illumined as it
were by the autumnal moon. 1208. Kāştha is not here now; who then nourishes us all the
time? So cease your hostility or else for both of us
death will be the result.' 1209. The birds in cages ....
she is merciless in her heart .... 1210. Madanā said : Disciple, this is true, but the household
which our father entrusted to us 1211. this she is now ruining because of her heart which is
merciless as a saw.' Then the parrot said: 'You will not experience tenderness from her but will perish
from her enmity. 1212. Madană, absorbed by passion, Vajrā is now to be avoided;
so therefore do not die at an unfitting time because
of an insensate act'. 1213. Then said Madanā : 'Learned sir, I prefer a righteous
death at an inopportune time than to see such un.. seemly actions committed here in our father's house' 1214. Then making a screeching noise the mynah was killed by
the enraged Vajrā and thrown into the fire because she
disturbed her amours. 1215. One should not speak falsely but there are truths which
should not be told; for speaking the truth Madanā was reduced to cinders in a cowdung fire.
