Samīcī

Samīcī was an apsarā (a heavenly dancer). She was one of five apsarās whom a brahmin cursed to live as crocodiles at sacred tīrthas (pilgrimage places). Arjuna freed her during his twelve years of vanavāsa (forest exile) and pilgrimage.

The śāpa

Five apsarās disturbed the meditation of a brahmin. In answer, he laid a śāpa (a curse) on them. They had to live as crocodiles at sacred tīrthas. Her four companions in this śāpa were Vargā, Saurabheyī, Budbuda and Latā.

Freed by Arjuna

Arjuna entered her tīrtha during his twelve years of pilgrimage. Her crocodile form seized him. He dragged her out of the water onto the bank. At that moment the śāpa ended, and she became an apsarā again.

Sources

• Mahābhārata, Ādi Parva, Chapter 216