King Nriga gave a white cow to a brahmana. When the cow wandered back onto his land, the King did not recognise her, and he gave her to a second brahmana. The two brahmanas argued over the cow, and, unable to reach an agreement, they complained to the King. Although the King tried to pacify them, he could not settle their dispute, and the brahmanas left him in an angry mood.

Because of this offence to the brahmanas, when King Nriga died, Yamaraja turned him into a lizard and sent him into a well in Dwaraka. Krishna rescued the lizard and transformed him into a demigod. Then, after telling his story, the demigod attained Krishna’s blessings and went to live on a heavenly planet.