Out of a swarm of bees one fifth part settled on a Kadamba blossom; one third on a Silihindra flower; three times the difference of those numbers flew to the bloom of a Kutaja. One bee, which remained, hovered about in the air. Tell me, charming woman, the number of bees? ... ?

Let there be n bees in the swarm.

Kadamba: n/5

Silihindra: n/3

Kutaja: 3 (n/3 - n/5)

Remaining = n - n/5 - n/3 - 3 (n/3 - n/5)

1 = n - n/5 - n/3 - 3 (n/3 - n/5)

Now, we solve this equation:

1 = n - n/5 - n/3 - n + 3n/5

1 = 3n/5 - 8n/15

1 = (9n - 8n) / 15

n = 15

There are 15 bees in the swarm.