Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (Volume 1).pdf/491

Rh One day that bull amongst the Pandavas, while residing in that region in the midst of those Brahmanas, decended (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 Nagae, 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 Nagar, addressed her smilingly and said.-O handsome girl, what an act of casbness hast thou done O timid one! Whose this is 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 decend 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 to-day by giving thyselt up to me!'

"Arjuna replied.-Commanded by king Yudhisthira, 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, Oranger 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 1 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