A reputed sage. By severe austerities he increased his spiritual powers, created a girl by his mental power, and afterwards entered into समाधि . The girl, who did not relish the idea of marriage, began penance in solitude, and she grew old. In the महाभारत she is known as वृद्धकन्या (Old Virgin). In the evening of her life she longed to give up her material body and to attain salvation. At this juncture नारद told her that salvation was not for unmarried women. She, therefore, gave half the power of her penance to a young man called शृङ्गवान् and lived as his wife for one single night. She thus attained salvation [mh-9-52-1 ] Mahābhārata • Śalya parva .