The Mahabharata/Book 1: Adi Parva/Section 216

Section CCXVI. *( Arjuna-vanavasha Parva continued.* ) Vaisampayana said, "And when that spreader of the renown of the Kuru race, the strong-armed Arjuna, set out (for the forest), Brahmanas conversant with the Vedas walked behind that illustrious hero for a certain distance. And followed by Brahmanas conversant with the Vedas and Vedāngas and devoted to the contemplation of the Supreme Spirit, by persons skilled in music, by ascetics devoted to the Deity, by reciters of Puranas, by narrators of sacred stories, by devotees leading celebate lives, by *Vanaprasthas*, by Brahmanas sweetly reciting celestial histories, by these and various classes of persons of sweet speeches, Arjuna journeyed like Indra followed by the Marutas. And, O thou of the Bharata race, that bull of the Bhāratas saw, as he journeyed, many delightful and picturesque forests, lakes, rivers, seas, provinces, and sacred places of pilgrimage. And at last arriving at the source of the Ganges, the mighty hero thought of settling there. "Listen now, O Janameyaja, to a wonderful feat which that foremost of the sons of Pandu, of high soul, did while there! When that son of Kunti, O Bhārata, and the Brahmanas who had followed him, took up their residence at that region, the Brahmanas performed innumerable *Agni-hotras* (sacrificial rites by igniting the fire). And, O king, in consequence of those learned, vow-observing, and illustrious Brahmanas, who never deviated from the right path, daily establishing, and igniting with *mantras* on the banks of that sacred stream, after performance of their ablutions, fires for their sacrifices, and pouring libations of clarified butter into the same, and worshipping those fires with offerings of flowers, that region itself where the Ganges entered the plains became exceedingly beautiful! And one day that bull amongst the Pandavas, while residing in that region in the midst of those Brahmanas, descended (as usual) into the Ganges for performing his ablutions. And after his ablutions had been over, and after he had offered the (usual) oblations of water unto his deceased ancestors, as he was about to rise up from the stream desirous of performing his sacrificial rites before the fire, the long-armed hero, O king, was drawn away into the bottom of the water by Ulupi, the daughter of the king of the Nāgas, urged by the god of desire. And it so happened that the son of Pandu was carried into the beautiful mansion of Kauravya the king of the Nāgas. And Arjuna saw there a sacrificial fire ignited for himself. And beholding that fire, Dhananjaya, the son of Kunti, performed his sacrificial rites with devotion. And Agni was much gratified with Arjuna for the fearlessness with which that hero poured libations into his manifested form. And after he had performed his rites before fire, the son of Kunti, beholding the daughter of the king of the Nāgas, addressed her smilingly and said, 'O handsome girl, what act of rashness is this that thou hast performed, O timid one! Whose is this beautiful region, who art thou and whose daughter?' "Hearing these words of Arjuna, Ulupi answered, 'There is a Nāga of name Kauravya, born in the line of Airāvata. I am, O prince, the daughter of that Kauravya, and my name is Ulupi. And, O thou tiger among men, beholding thee descended into the stream for performing thy ablutions, I was deprived of reason by the god of desire! O thou sinless one, I am still unmarried. Oppressed as I am by the god of desire on account of thee, O thou of the Kuru race, gratify me today by giving thyself up to me!' "Arjuna replied, 'Commanded by king Yudhish-thira, O amiable one, I am undergoing the vow of a Brahmachārin for twelve years! I am not free to act in any way I like. But, O thou ranger of the waters, I am willing yet to do thy pleasure (if I can). I have never spoken an untruth before. Tell me, therefore, O Nāga maid, how I may act so, that while doing thy pleasure I may not be guilty of any untruth or breach of duty!' "Ulupi answered, 'I know, O son of Pāndu, why thou wanderest over the earth, and why is it that thou hast been commanded to lead the life of a Brahmachārin by thy superior! Even this was the understanding to which all of ye had been pledged, *viz*, that amongst ye all owning Drupada's daughter as your common wife, he who should from ignorance enter the room where one of ye should be sitting with her, should lead the life of a Brahmachārin in the woods for twelve years! The exile of one another of ye, therefore, is only for the sake of Drupadi. Thou art but observing the duty arising from that vow. Thy virtue cannot sustain any diminution (by acceding to my solicitation). Then again, O thou of large eyes, it is a duty to relieve the distressed! Thy virtue suffereth no diminution by reliving me! Or, if (by this act) O Arjuna, thy virtue suffereth a minute diminution, thou wilt acquire great merit by saving my life. Know me for thy worshipper, O Pārtha! Therefore yield thyself up to me! Even this, O lord, is the opinion of the wise, (*viz*, that one should accept a woman that wooeth herself). If thou dost not act in this way, know that I will destroy myself. O thou of long arms, earn thou great merit by saving my life! I seek thy shelter, O thou best of men! Thou protecteth always, O son of Kunti, the afflicted and the masterless! I seek thy protection, weeping in sorrow. I woo thee, being filled with desire. Therefore, do what is agreeable to me! It behoveth thee to gratify my wish by yielding thyself up to me!'" Vaisampayana said, "Thus addressed by the daughter of the king of the Nāgas, the son of Kunti did everything she desired, making virtue his motive. And the powerful Arjuna, spending the night in the mansion of the Nāga, rose with the sun in the morning. And accompanied by Ulupi he came back from the palace of Kauravya to the region where the Ganges entereth the plains. And the chaste Ulupi taking leave of him there, returned to her own abode. And, O Bhārata, she granted unto Arjuna a boon making him invincible in water, saying, 'Every amphibious creature shall, without doubt, be vanquished by thee!'" Thus ends the two hundred and sixteenth Section in the Arjuna-vanavāsa of the Adi Parva.