Latā

Latā was one of five apsarās (heavenly dancers) whom a brāhmaṇa cursed to live as crocodiles at sacred tīrthas (pilgrimage places). They had disturbed his meditation. Arjuna freed her during his twelve-year vanavāsa (forest exile), which he spent on pilgrimage.

The curse and the release

Arjuna entered her tīrtha. Latā, in her crocodile form, seized him. Arjuna dragged her out of the water onto the bank. At that moment the śāpa (curse) lifted, and she was restored to her form as an apsarā.

Her companions

The four other apsarās under the same curse were Vargā, Saurabheyī, Samīcī and Budbuda.

Sources

• Mahābhārata, Ādi Parva, Chapter 216