The Apsaras Who Became Crocodiles

Arjuna spent some time with them. They told him about the five ponds there that were once regarded as sacred and that people used to bathe in them out of faith and devotion. But now, they said, even sages were afraid to go near the ponds because a fearsome crocodile resided in each of them. 

Arjuna fearlessly entered a pond, remembering the boon Ulupi had granted him. A crocodile came to attack him, but he grabbed it by the tail and slammed it onto the ground. The crocodile immediately turned into a beautiful damsel. She introduced herself as Varga, an apsara from Kubera's court who resided in Nandana Vana, a celestial pleasure garden. She said that four of her female friends lived in the other ponds, also in the form of crocodiles.

She then began narrating how she had become a crocodile. One day, the five of them were walking from their garden to Kubera's palace. On the way, they saw a handsome Brahmin deep in meditation. They decided to pull a prank on him by disturbing his meditation. But the Brahmin had control over his senses and was not seduced by the apsaras' beauty. He cursed them to live on Earth for a hundred years as crocodiles.

The apsaras realised their mistake and begged for forgiveness. The Brahmin took pity on them and said, "When a brave warrior pulls you out of the water and slams you onto the ground, you will return to your true forms."

Varga requested Arjuna to free her friends from the curse as well. Arjuna obliged. All five apsaras thanked Arjuna and then set out for Nandana Vana.

Arjuna continued his journey along the western coast and reached a place called Gokarna, which is sacred to Lord Shiva, in Malabar. He then proceeded north along the coast and reached a place called Prabhas, which lay on the western coast near Dwarka. When Lord Krishna heard that Arjuna was in the vicinity, he set out to meet him. The two friends embraced each other.