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Pancharatra: Background behind crocodile curse. Birth of Babruvahana.
The group said.
Then, O best of the Bharatas, all of us, greatly agitated, let us seek refuge with that imperishable ascetic Brāhmaṇa.
O Brahmin, made proud by beauty, youth, and the god of love, we have acted improperly; you ought to forgive us.
This alone is truly our ruin, O ascetic, that we have come here to tempt you, whose mind is firmly resolved.
"Women are considered by those who reflect on dharma to be not to be killed. Therefore, O knower of dharma, you should not harm us by righteousness."
A brāhmaṇa is called one who knows dharma and is friendly to all beings. Let this statement of the wise be true and auspicious.
The virtuous protect those who seek refuge. We have sought refuge in you; therefore, you ought to forgive us.
Vaiśampāyana said.
Thus, when addressed, the righteous brāhmaṇa, performer of auspicious deeds, graciously favored (him), O hero, shining with the radiance of the Sun and Moon.
The brāhmaṇa said.
The words 'hundred', 'thousand', 'all', and 'everything' indicate the imperishable, but when used as a measure, 'hundred' does not indicate the imperishable.
O best among men, when your crocodile-formed ones seize men in the water, if someone drags (them) from the water to the land.
Then all of you will regain your original forms again. I have never spoken a falsehood, not even in jest.
From this point onward, all those holy places will be known as 'women-holy places' here, and they will attain fame in every way.
The meritorious deeds of the wise will become purifying.
The group said.
Then, after saluting the brāhmaṇa and circumambulating him, we approached and, being very sorrowful, departed from that place.
Where, indeed, are we all, that we might soon meet that man who could restore that form to us again?
O Bhārata, after pondering thus for a moment, they beheld the highly fortunate divine sage Nārada.
All the women, delighted, upon seeing the divine sage of immeasurable splendor, after saluting him, O Pārtha, stood there with distressed faces.
He asked us, who had spoken about the root of sorrow, and after hearing that, we narrated this matter as it had occurred.
On the southern seashore, there are five sacred and beautiful places; go to those without delay.
There, Dhanañjaya, the pure-souled son of Pāṇḍu and tiger among men, will quickly release us from sorrow; there is no doubt about it.
O hero, all of us came here after hearing his words. Truly, today I have been freed by you, O sinless one.
But these are my four friends, and the others are standing in the water. Perform the auspicious act, O hero, and release all of them.
Vaiśampāyana said.
Then, O lord of men, the best among the Pāṇḍavas, full of strength, released all those from the curse, his spirit undaunted.
O king, the Apsarases, having risen from that water and regained their own forms, then became invisible just as they were before.
After purifying the sacred places and granting them permission, the lord went again to Maṇalūra city to see Citrāṅgadā.
He begot a son named Babruvāhana in her. Upon seeing him, O king, the Pāṇḍava went towards Gokarṇa.
