“Vaishampaayana said, ‘When that spreader of the fame of Kuru’s race,
the strong-armed Arjuna, set out (for the forest), Brahmanas knowledgeable with the Vedas walked behind that famed hero
to a certain distance. Followed by Brahmanas knowledgeable with the Vedas and
their branches (Vedaangaas in Sanskrit)
and devoted to the meditation of the Supreme Soul, by persons skilled in music,
by Rishis devoted to the Deity (Bhagawaan in Sanskrit), by reciters of Puraanaas, by narrators of sacred stories, by devotees
leading celibate lives (Raajanshramaa in Sanskrit), by Vanaprasthas, by Brahmanas sweetly reciting divine histories, and
by various other classes of persons of sweet speeches, Arjuna journeyed like (Lord) Indra followed by the Maruts. O you of Bharata’s
race (King Janamejaya), that bull
among the Bharatas (Arjuna) saw, as
he journeyed, many delightful and attractive forests, lakes, rivers, seas,
provinces, and waters. At length, on arriving at the source of the Ganga (modern-day
Gangotri, Uttarkashi district, Uttarakhand state, India) the mighty hero thought of settling there.
“Listen now, O Janamejaya, to a wonderful achievement which that
foremost of Pandavas (Arjuna), of
high soul, did, while living there. O Bharata, when that son of Kunti (Arjuna) and the Brahmanas who had followed him,
took up their residence in that region, the latter (Brahmanas) performed innumerable Agnihotra (yagna). O king (Janamejaya), in consequence of those learned vow (Vrata
in Sanskrit)-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 bathing,
fires (Agni in Sanskrit) for their
sacrifices, and pouring offerings of clarified butter into the same, and
worshipping those fires with offerings of flowers, that region itself where the
Ganga entered the plains became exceedingly beautiful.
“One day that bull among the Pandavas (Arjuna), while residing in that region in the middle of those Brahmanas,
descended (as usual) into Ganga to
perform his bathing. After his bathing had been over, and after he had offered
oblations of water (Tarpana in Sanskrit) to his deceased ancestors, he was about to get up from the stream to
perform his sacrificial rites before the fire (Agni kaarya in Sanskrit), when the mighty-armed hero (Arjuna), O king (Janamejaya), was dragged into the bottom of the water
by Ulupi, the daughter of the king of the Naagaas, urged by Kaamadeva.
“It so happened that the son of Pandu (Arjuna) was carried into the beautiful mansion (Bhavana in Sanskrit) of Kauravya, the king of the Naagaas.
Arjuna saw there a sacrificial fire (Agni kaaryam in Sanskrit) ignited for himself. Looking that fire,
Dhananjaya (Arjuna), the son of
Kunti performed his sacrificial rites (Agni kaaryam in Sanskrit) with devotion. Agni was much pleased with
Arjuna for the fearlessness with which that hero had poured offerings into his
manifest form. After he had thus performed his rites before the fire, the son
of Kunti (Arjuna), seeing the
daughter of the king of the Naagaas, addressed her smilingly and said, ‘O beautiful
girl, what an act of rashness have you done? O frightened one! Whose is this
beautiful region, who are you and whose daughter?’
“Hearing these words of Arjuna, Ulupi answered, ‘There is a Naagaa of
the name of Kauravya, born in the line (Kula in Sanskrit) of Airaavata (snake). I am, O prince (Arjuna), the daughter of that Kauravya, and my
name is Ulupi. O tiger among men (Arjuna), seeing you descend into the stream to perform your bathing, I was
deprived of reason by Kaamaadeva. O sinless one (Arjuna), I am still unmarried. Pained as I am by Kaamadeva
on account of you, O you of Kuru’s race (Arjuna), satisfy me today by giving yourself up to me.’
“Arjuna replied, ‘Commanded by king Yudhishthira, O frightened one, I
am undergoing the vow of Brahmachari (Brahmachari Vrata in Sanskrit) for twelve years. I am not free to act in
any way I like. But, O traveller of the waters, I am still willing to do your
pleasure (if I can). I have never
spoken an untruth (Asatya in Sanskrit)
in my life. Tell me, therefore, O Naagaa woman (Ulupi), how I may act so that, while doing your pleasure, I may not be guilty
of any untruth or breach of duty.’
“Ulupi answered, ‘O Pandava (Arjuna), I know why you wander over the earth, and why you have been commanded
to lead the life of a Brahmachari by the superior (Yudhishthira). This was the understanding to which all
of you had been pledged, viz., that among 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 Brahmachari in the forest
for twelve years. The exile of any one among you, therefore, is only for the
sake of Draupadi. You are but observing the duty arising from that vow. Your Dharma
cannot sustain any decline (by accepting to my request).
“O you of large eyes (Arjuna),
then again it is a Dharma to relieve the distressed.
Your Dharma suffers no decline by relieving me. Oh, if (by this act), O Arjuna, your Dharma does suffer a small
decline, you will acquire great merit by saving my life. Know me for your
worshipper, O Paartha (Arjuna)!
Therefore, yield yourself up to me! This, O lord (Arjuna), 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 (Arjuna)! O son of Kunti (Arjuna), you always protect always the pained and
the masterless. I seek your protection, weeping in sorrow. I woo you, being
filled with Kaamaa. Therefore, do what is agreeable to me. It is your duty to satisfy
my wish by yielding yourself up to me.’
“Vaishampaayana said, ‘Thus addressed by the daughter of the king of
the Naagaas (Ulupi), the son of
Kunti (Pandavas) did everything she
desired, making Dharma his motive. The mighty Arjuna, spending the night in the
mansion (Bhavana in Sanskrit) of the
Naagaa rose with the Sun in the morning. Accompanied by Ulupi he came back from
the palace of Kauravya to the region where Ganga enters the plains. The chaste
Ulupi, taking her leave there, returned to her own abode (Naagaloka in
Sanskrit). O Bharata (Janamejaya), she granted to Arjuna a boon making him
invincible in water, saying, ‘Every amphibious creature shall, without doubt,
be conquerable by you.’”
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