Vargā

Vargā was an apsarā (a celestial nymph). She was one of five apsarās who were cursed by a brāhmaṇa and turned into crocodiles at five sacred tīrthas (pilgrimage places). Her four companions were Saurabheyī, Samīcī, Budbuda and Latā. Arjuna freed all five during his pilgrimage.

The śāpa and the change

Vargā and four other apsarās disturbed a brāhmaṇa while he was deep in meditation. The brāhmaṇa gave them a śāpa (a curse). They would become crocodiles in the five tīrthas where they had given offence. They could not return to their apsarā form until a great hero dragged them out of the water with his own hands.

They lived as crocodiles in these tīrthas for a long time. The tīrthas became dangerous, and pilgrims no longer bathed there.

Freed by Arjuna

During his twelve years in the forest (vanavāsa), Arjuna came to these tīrthas and bathed. At the first tīrtha a crocodile, who was Vargā, seized him at once. He did not panic. He took hold of the crocodile and dragged it out of the water with one hand. As it came onto the bank, it changed into Vargā, beautiful, radiant and restored. She told him her story, thanked him and rose to her own world.

Arjuna then went to each of the other four tīrthas. He freed each of the other four apsarās in the same way, and all five went back to their own world.

Sources

• Mahābhārata, Ādi Parva, Chapter 216