The story of Goddess Lakshmi, Ganga and Saraswati as wives
of Lord Vishnu is mentioned in the Brahmavaivarta Purana and Devi Bhagavatam.
There was no unity among the three wives. Arguments and quarrels were a
constant feature.
Once, a major quarrel broke out between Goddess Saraswati
and Goddess Ganga. Both were feisty and temperamental. Goddess Lakshmi
attempted to make peace between the two but she was ignored.
The fight took a real ugly turn and the two cursed each
other to become rivers on earth and absorb sins of the people who bathed in
them.
Lord Vishnu failed to control his two tempestuous wives. He abandoned
the two and decided to have only Lakshmi as his wife. Later, Brahma gave refuge
to Saraswati and Shiva gave refuge to Ganga.
Such stories in Puranas are a warning to human beings who
engage in multiple relationships. The story symbolically states that even Gods
cannot be happy with multiple wives or husbands.