SECTION CCXVI
(Arjuna-vanavasa Parva continued)
"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 thou 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 thou done. O timid one!
Whose is this beautiful region, who art thou 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 thee descend into the stream to perform thy
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 thee, O
thou 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 Brahmacharin 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 thy 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
thy pleasure, I may not be guilty of any untruth or breach of duty.'
"Ulupi answered, 'I know, O son of Pandu,
why thou wanderest over the earth, and why thou hast been commanded to lead the
life of a Brahmacharin 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 Brahmacharin in
the woods for twelve years. The exile of any one amongst you, therefore, is
only for the sake of Draupadi. 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 relieving me. Oh, if (by this act), O
Arjuna, thy virtue doth suffer a small diminution, thou wilt acquire great
merit by saving my life. Know me for thy 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 wooeth). If thou do not act in this way, know that I
will destroy myself. O thou of mighty arms, earn great merit by saving my life.
I seek thy shelter, O best of men! Thou protectest 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 thy 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 entereth 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
thee.'"
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