Having narrated all these matters to the assembled Brahmins, O Bharata, the son of Indra—Arjuna—took his leave and set out toward the Himalayas. He journeyed to the hermitage of the great sage Agastya, visited the mountain sacred to Vasistha, and ascended the peak of Bhrigu. There, Arjuna performed purification rites for himself, seeking to cleanse his body and spirit. With a generous heart, he gave away thousands of cows and many other gifts to the Brahmins, O best of the Kurus, and granted settlements to the twice-born. Then, at the sacred ford of Hiranyabindu, Arjuna bathed in those holy waters and beheld many revered shrines, his mind filled with devotion. Together with the Brahmins, Arjuna, the foremost among men, descended from the heights and turned his steps eastward. As he proceeded, he visited each holy place in turn, seeing the beautiful lotus-filled river and entering the famed Naimisha forest. He beheld the rivers Nanda and Aparananda, the renowned Kausiki, the mighty river Gaya, and the sacred waters of the Ganga, O Bharata. As he visited these holy places and hermitages, Arjuna purified himself through ritual and charity, giving cows to the Brahmins at each stop. He made pilgrimage to all the sacred sites and shrines in the regions of Anga, Vanga, and Kalinga. Having properly visited these places, Arjuna distributed wealth among the Brahmins. Then, at the borders of Kalinga, the Brahmins who had accompanied him, with his permission, took their leave and turned back, O Bharata. Thus permitted, Dhananjaya, son of Kunti, valiant and resolute, continued on his journey with only a few companions, heading toward the place where the ocean lies. Passing through Kalinga and its surrounding regions and shrines, he beheld delightful mansions along the way. Soon, he saw Mount Mahendra, adorned by ascetics, and there he bathed in the sacred Godavari River. Crossing its waters, he pressed onward. When he reached the Kaveri at its confluence with the ocean, Arjuna bathed and, together with the sages, worshipped the gods and honored the ancestors. Slowly, traveling along the seashore, he made his way to the city of Manalura. There, after visiting all the holy places and sacred shrines, the mighty-armed Arjuna approached the king of the region. The ruler of Manalura was Citravahana, a righteous and wise monarch, and his daughter was named Citrangada, a maiden of striking beauty. By chance, Arjuna saw Citrangada as she wandered in the city. Captivated by her grace and lovely form, he desired to wed the daughter of Citravahana. Approaching the king, Arjuna revealed his wish: “O King, give me this maiden to be the wife of this great-souled Kshatriya.” Hearing this, Citravahana inquired, “Whose son are you, and what is your name?” Arjuna replied, “I am the Pandava, Dhananjaya, son of Kunti.” With gentle words, the king explained, “A king named Prabhanjana was once born in our lineage. He was sonless and longed for offspring, so he performed the highest austerities. By his severe penance, the god of gods, the wielder of Pinaka—Lord Shiva—was pleased and granted that each in our line would have but a single child. Thus, in every generation, only one child is born; so it was for all my ancestors. This one daughter of mine, Citrangada, is especially meant to continue our lineage. In my heart, I have regarded her as my son. According to the custom of putrikā, O best of the Bharatas, the son born of her will be considered both mine and yours, O Bhārata. Let this be the bride-price: the son born to her shall be the continuer of our line. Accept my daughter on this condition, O Pāṇḍava.” Arjuna agreed, saying, “So be it.” He accepted Citrangada, and after performing the marriage rites in the thirteenth month, he dwelt in Manalura with her for three months. Afterward, O best of the Bharatas, Arjuna journeyed to the sacred fords along the southern sea, places of great auspiciousness frequented by ascetics. There, he learned that five ascetics would avoid certain fords, as they had been defiled by others. Arjuna saw the Agastya ford, the Saubhadra, the supremely pure Pauloma, the serene Kārandhama, and another yielding great sacrificial merit. He also beheld the great Bhāradvāja ford, known to remove sin. These five fords he found deserted, avoided by the wise sages. With joined palms, Arjuna respectfully asked the ascetics, “Why are these fords avoided by the brahma-vādins?” They replied, “Five crocodiles dwell in these waters, O joy of the Kurus. They seize ascetics rich in austerity; therefore, these fords are shunned.” Hearing this, Arjuna, though restrained by the ascetics, went forth to see the fords, O best of men. Reaching the excellent Saubhadra ford of the great sage, the valiant Arjuna plunged in and performed his bath at once. Suddenly, a great crocodile dwelling in the water seized Arjuna’s foot. But the mighty-armed son of Kunti, foremost among the strong, seized the creature and, with his great strength, dragged it from the water as it thrashed about. In that moment, as Arjuna pulled it forth, the crocodile was transformed into a beautiful woman, adorned with all manner of ornaments, her form radiant and divine.