Section CCXVI

"Vaisampayana said, 'When that spreader of the renown of Kuru’s race, the strong-armed Arjuna, set out (for the forest), Brahmanas conversant with the Vedas walked behind that illustrious hero to a certain distance.

Followed by Brahmanas conversant with the Vedas and their branches 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 celibate lives, by Vanaprasthas, by Brahmanas sweetly reciting celestial histories, and by various other classes of persons of sweet speeches, Arjuna journeyed like Indra followed by the Maruts.

And, O you of Bharata’s race, that bull among the Bharatas saw, as he journeyed, many delightful and picturesque forests, lakes, rivers, seas, provinces, and waters. At length, on arriving at the source of the Ganges the mighty hero thought of settling there.

"Listen now, O Janamejaya, to a wonderful feat which that foremost of the sons of Pandu, of high soul, did, while living there. When that son of Kunti, O Bharata, and the Brahmanas who had followed him, took up their residence in that region, the latter performed innumerable Agnihotras (sacrificial rites by igniting the sacred 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 the 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.

One day that bull amongst the Pandavas, while residing in that region in the midst of those Brahmanas, descended (as usual) into the Ganges to perform his ablutions. After his ablutions had been over, and after he had offered oblations of water unto his deceased ancestors, he was about to get up from the stream to perform his sacrificial rites before the fire, when the mighty-armed hero, O king, was dragged into the bottom of the water by Ulupi, the daughter of the king of the Nagas, 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 Nagas. Arjuna saw there a sacrificial fire ignited for himself. 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 had poured libations into his manifest form. After he had thus performed his rites before the fire, the son of Kunti, beholding the daughter of the king of the Nagas, addressed her smilingly and said,

'O handsome girl, what an act of rashness hast you done. O timid one! Whose is this beautiful region, who art you and whose daughter?'

"Hearing these words of Arjuna, Ulupi answered,

'There is a Naga of the name of Kauravya, born in the line of Airavata. I am, O prince, the daughter of that Kauravya, and my name is Ulupi.

O tiger among men, beholding you descend into the stream to perform your ablutions, I was deprived of reason by the god of desire.

O sinless one, I am still unmarried. Afflicted as I am by the god of desire on account of you, O you of Kuru’s race, gratify me today by giving thyself up to me.'

"Arjuna replied,

'Commanded by king Yudhishthira, O amiable one, I am undergoing the vow of Brahmacarin for twelve years. I am not free to act in any way I like.

But, O ranger of the waters, I am still willing to do your pleasure (if I can). I have never spoken an untruth in my life. Tell me, therefore, O Naga maid, how I may act so that, while doing your pleasure, I may not be guilty of any untruth or breach of duty.'

"Ulupi answered,

'I know, O son of Pandu, why you wanderest over the earth, and why you have been commanded to lead the life of a Brahmacarin by the superior. Even this was the understanding to which all of you had been pledged, viz., that amongst you all owning Drupada’s daughter as your common wife, he who would from ignorance enter the room where one of you would be sitting with her, should lead the life of a Brahmacarin in the woods for twelve years.

The exile of any one amongst you, therefore, is only for the sake of Draupadi. You are but observing the duty arising from that vow. Your virtue cannot sustain any diminution (by acceding to my solicitation).

Then again, O you of large eyes, it is a duty to relieve the distressed. Your virtue suffers no diminution by relieving me. Oh, if (by this act), O Arjuna, your virtue does suffer a small diminution, you will acquire great merit by saving my life.

Know me for your worshipper, O Partha!

Therefore, yield thyself up to me! Even this, O lord, is the opinion of the wise (viz., that one should accept a woman that woos). If you do not act in this way, know that I will destroy myself. O you of mighty arms, earn great merit by saving my life.

I seek your shelter, O best of men! You protectest always, O son of Kunti, the afflicted and the masterless. I seek your protection, weeping in sorrow. I woo you, being filled with desire.

Therefore, do what is agreeable to me. It behoves you to gratify my wish by yielding your self up to me.'

"Vaisampayana said, 'Thus addressed by the daughter of the king of the Nagas, the son of Kunti did everything she desired, making virtue his motive. The mighty Arjuna, spending the night in the mansion of the Naga rose with the sun in the morning. Accompanied by Ulupi he came back from the palace of Kauravya to the region where the Ganges enters the plains. The chaste Ulupi, taking her leave there, returned to her own abode.

And, O Bharata, she granted unto Arjuna a boon making him invincible in water, saying, 'Every amphibious creature shall, without doubt, be vanquishable by you.'"