Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c9.2123

c9.2123

After leaving Vikramaśakti, Śrīdatta was walking with the others along the river-bank when he saw a woman struggling for life because she was caught in a whirlpool in the middle of the river. Śrīdatta at once left his companions and jumped into the river and swam up to her. When he was almost within reach of her hair the woman sank into the water. Śrīdatta also sank and followed her, but after some time, he found neither the woman nor even water. He found himself in a Śiva temple. He offered worship there and took rest in a park close by. The next morning a woman came to worship in the temple. When she returned after worship, Śrīdatta followed her. The woman who was alarmed, walked faster and at last reached a heavenly abode. She entered the house and took her seat on a cot inside. Śrīdatta also got in and sat near the cot. Many other women came and stood around her. Without any apparent reason she began to cry. Śrīdatta who puzzled, asked her why she was crying. She replied to him in the following words :-