[610] And then, having withdrawn from the presence of [King] Vedeha,
he [Mahosadha] addressed his messenger, the wise parrot (suvapaṇḍita) Mādhura:
"Come, friend green-wing, and do me a service:
the king of Pañcāla has a myna (sālikā), the keeper of his bedchamber.
Question her by way of intimacy, for she is skilled in all things;
she knows everything of theirs, both the king's and Kosiya's."
"Yes," assented the wise parrot Mādhura,
and the green-winged one went into the presence of the myna.
And then indeed, having gone there, the wise parrot Mādhura
addressed the sweet-voiced myna of the fine cage:
"I hope you are bearing up well in your fine cage; I hope in your condition you are free from ailment;
I hope you obtain parched grain with honey, there in your fine cage?"
[The myna replied:] "It is indeed well with me, friend; and, friend, I am free from ailment;
and parched grain with honey I do obtain, O wise parrot.
But whence have you come, friend, or by whom have you been sent?
Never before this have I seen you, nor even heard of you."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.