Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c9.4722

c9.4722

At this time the hermit Gālava reached the temple of Śrīkaṇṭheśvara. He saw Damayantī and Vedavatī and felt pity on them. Next day Gālava started for Saptagodāvara to take a bath in Kārttika. Damayantī and Vedavatī followed the hermit. They reached Saptagodāvara and dipped in Puṣkara bath. Under water they saw several Virgin fishes gathered round a whale begging him for love. The whale was saying harsh words to them rejecting their request. The fish virgins again told the whale. "Don't you see the hermit Gālava going about with two beautiful damsels. If this righteous hermit does not fear slander, why should you, who live under water fear it?" The whale replied. "Gālava doesn't fear people because he is daring and blind with love." Hearing these words of the fishes, Gālava became ashamed of himself. So without coming up he stayed under water. The two girls finished bath and got on the bank, and waited for Gālava. Viśvakarmā's daughter Citrāṅgadā, who had reached the place earlier, met the two girls. They told each other their stories. "As Ṛtadhvaja had prophesied, Damayantī the daughter of Añjana and Vedavatī the daughter of Parjanya have arrived." Thought Citrāṅgadā. "If Devavatī the daughter of the asura Kandāramālī, also is come, I could unite with my husband Suratha." Citrāṅgadā became glad. At this time Devavatī, the daughter of Kandāramālī, ran to the spot, being chased by the Viśvakarmā monkey.