Skandapurana 3.3.23.9

3.3.23.9

8. Now, the description of the māhātmya of the Somapradoṣa vow; in that context, the narration of the story of Sīmantinī, the daughter of King Citravarman in Āryāvarta. There, after Sīmantinī heard separately from two brahmins skilled in palmistry, who had approached her father, about her future great fortune and her future widowhood, and out of fear of attaining widowhood, her seeking refuge with the great sage Yājñavalkya's wife named Maitreyī to hear the means for enhancing her marital auspiciousness; Maitreyī's teaching her the rite of worshipping Śiva and Gaurī on Mondays; then, the royal maiden Sīmantinī's undertaking of the Monday vow with all its parts according to the path instructed by Maitreyī; the marriage of Sīmantinī with Indrasena's son Citrāṅgada; then, while residing in his father-in-law's house, Citrāṅgada's boarding a boat at one time to cross the Yamunā river, and the sudden sinking of the boat in the middle of the current; the death of everyone aboard the boat; King Citravarman and others mourning upon learning of the prince Citrāṅgada's death through the sinking of the boat; thus Sīmantinī's falling into the state of widowhood; even though the state of widowhood had befallen her, Sīmantinī's performing the observance of the Monday vow duly for a period of three years; then, as Citrāṅgada was sinking lower and lower in the waters of the Yamunā, sporting Nāga maidens taking him to Takṣaka's city in Pātāla and reporting him to King Takṣaka; Takṣaka's hospitably welcoming Citrāṅgada and asking questions about his chosen deity; Citrāṅgada's declaration of his devotion to the Lord, the venerable Śaṅkara, as his chosen deity; hearing his words, the pleased Takṣaka's showing great honor to Citrāṅgada; then, hearing Citrāṅgada's petition to go to his own home, Takṣaka's gratifying him by feeding him with dishes made from the elixir of the wishing-tree of that place, giving him vast wealth, granting a rākṣasa and a serpent for assistance, providing him with a horse capable of going anywhere at will with unobstructed gait for a mount, endowing him with blessings, and giving Citrāṅgada permission to go to his own residence; then, Citrāṅgada bowing to King Takṣaka, receiving his permission, mounting the horse, taking the wealth, departing from Pātāla together with the rākṣasa and serpent given for assistance, swiftly emerging from the waters of the Yamunā, and riding the horse in recreation along the bank of the Yamunā; now at that very time, Sīmantinī, who had come to bathe in the Yamunā with her companions, seeing him; then, hearing Sīmantinī's story from the mouth of her companion, Citrāṅgada himself saying to Sīmantinī, 'Your husband has been seen by us; he will return to you very soon; compose your mind and do not grieve; we are gods known as Siddhas who travel at will,' and thus comforting her, Citrāṅgada departing for his father's city; there, hearing that his father Indrasena, whose son was lost, had been deposed from his royal position by his kinsmen, Citrāṅgada sending a message to the kinsmen through the Nāga youth to relinquish the royal office; hearing Citrāṅgada's message spoken by the Nāga youth, all the kinsmen returning the royal office to Indrasena, reporting the news of his son's arrival, begging forgiveness for their transgression, and appeasing him; then, Citrāṅgada going to his own palace and bowing to his parents; the parents attaining supreme joy upon recovering their son; then, King Indrasena sending a messenger to King Citravarman to convey the auspicious news of his son's safe return from Pātāla; hearing the news of his son-in-law's arrival from the mouth of the messenger, King Citravarman attaining supreme joy and auspiciousness; then, the king joyfully conveying the auspicious news of her husband to his daughter Sīmantinī; then, Citravarman summoning Indrasena's son Citrāṅgada, performing the wedding rites again in full detail, and giving his daughter Sīmantinī to Citrāṅgada with great ceremony; then, Citrāṅgada pleasing his wife with ornaments and other articles brought from Pātāla, taking her, arriving at his own city, and enjoying royal happiness with great joy; thus, the description of Citrāṅgada and Sīmantinī obtaining all desired happiness through the power of the vow of worshipping Śiva and Gaurī on Mondays. .... 187 2