Ulūpī is the daughter of the Nāga-king Kauravya, born of the genealogy of Airāvata, and she is the wife of the third Pāṇḍava Arjuna. After the Pāṇḍavas’ marriage to Draupadī, at the suggestion of Nārada, the brothers thought of a way, to avoid any conflict among themselves regarding Draupadī. It was decided that Draupadī would live for one year in each of the brother’s room. At the time of living with one of the brothers, if another brother enters that room, he would have to live the life of a celibate for twelve years. Then an incident took place Then an incident took place. Thieves s stole a Brāhmaṇ’s cows. The Brāhmaṇa, in his agitation, was blaming the king of the land expressing his disappointment against the Pāṇḍava(s).
At the time, Yudhiṣṭhira was in the treasury of arms, along with Draupadī. Arjuna protected the property of the Brāhmaṇa from the robbers, but for the violation of the rule, he was compelled to go into exile for twelve years. Crossing several pilgrimages, mountains and rivers , Arjuna finally came to Gaṅgādvāra, the present name of which is Haradvāra. Arjuna̍s heart was charmed to see the extraordinary beauty of the place, and founded a(n) āśrama there.
sa gaṅgādvāramāsādya niveśamakarot prabhuḥ.
The Brāhmaṇa(s) chanted mantra(s), kindled the fire of yajña, the acts of agnihotra, offering flowers, conservation of fire commenced. Feom the other side of Gaṅgā, many could see these activities of Arjuna–
teṣu pravodhyamāneṣu jvaliteṣu huteṣu ca
kṛtapuṣpopahāreṣu tīrāntaragateṣu ca.
Things were going on in this manner; one day as the Brāhmaṇa(s) were engaged in their works, Arjuna went to take a bath in Gaṅgā. After taking bath in the soothing and cold water of Gaṅgādvāra, he completed tarpaṇa-offering, dedicated to the forefathers. After that, he wished to perform Agnihotra. He was about to come out of water, at that very moment, Ulūpī, the daughter of Nāga, dragged him by the leg, into the depth of water–
avakṛṣto mahāvāhornāgarājasya kanyayā.
Arjuna did not resist, and went down into the water, being dragged by the Nāga lady– antarjale mahārāja ulūpyā kāmayānaya. Ulūpī brought Arjuna to the Agniśaraṇa gṛha of the house of Kauravya, where the Agnihotra could be completed. Having completed his unfinished Agnihotra, Arjuna asked Ulūpī about her identity. Ulūpī said that she was the daughter of Kauravya Nāga, belonging to the lineage of Airāvata. After the pleliminary introduction, Arjuna said, “Why have do suddenly done such a daing act– kimidaṃ sāhasaṃ bhīru kṛtavatyasi bhāvini? Ulūpī blatantly said– “When you went to take a bath in Gaṅgā, that vey moment I have been attracted towards you. My body and mind are eager to have you. I wish, you also give yourself to me, and satisfy my desire–
dṛṣṭaiva puruṣavyāghra kandarpenāsmi pīḍitā.
From Ulpi;s behaviour, it can be understood that in those days, men or women– were not ashamed of openly expressing their desire. Ulūpī said to Arjuna — “As I am so eager to have you, you should also act in way to please me. It is not so that I have a husband, to whom I can dedicate myself. So, you don̍t need to have any kind of hesitation regarding me”.
However, Ulūpī was without a husband at that time, but she had been married earlier, as it is said in Bhīṣmaparva. From the details given there, it can be known that Ulūpī had been married to a man of the Nāga community, but such was her misfortune that her Nāga-husband got killed by Garuḍ. After the immature death of her Nāga-husband, Ulūpī remained at her father̍s house. For a very short time, she had the experience of a conjugal life, and the fire of desire was burning in her heart. She wished to have such a man, whose company would be pleasing to her. Coming to Gaṅgādvāra, she found a man like Arjuna, and immediately she dragged her into water, without any feminine coyness or hesitation. There was no want of candidness in Ulūpī̍s self-dedication to Arjuna. Rather, such was the truth and sweetness of her proposal, that Arjuna could not say a word.
After hearing Ulūpī̍s proposal, Arjuna clarified his problem. He said, he had been on a vow of celibacy for twelve years–
brahmacaryamidaṃ bhadre dvādaśavārṣikam.
At the same time, Arjuna told Ulūpī that Dharmarāja Yudhiṣṭhira himself has laid down this regulation in front of everyone, and he would like to abide by it. The major problem was his vow of celibacy.
Arjuna left the problem to Ulūpī, saying that– some means should be found so that the rule of the Pāṇḍava(s) might not be falsified, and what also might be pleasing to her–
kathañca nānṛtaṃ tat syāttava cāpi priyaṃ bhavet.Ulūpī then quietly told Arjuna, she is aware of the situation of Arjuna. She knew that, Arjuna had come to the forest, with a vow of celibacy. But this rule is only valid in the relation between Draupadī and the other Pāṇḍava(s).
tadidaṃ draupadī hetoranyonyasya pravāsanam.
The intelligent Ulūpī understood that this logic was not too strong. So she further said, “I am suffering. It is a Kṣtriya̍s duty to give life to a suffering woman. I have come under your protection. Your ̍dharma̍ will be served, if you save the life of a woman who seeks your protection”.
Arjuna agreed, hearing the fervent appeal of the Nāga woman, and spend nights with Ulūpī in the house of Kauravya. On the last day, when Arjuna was leaving, Ulūpī gave him a boon that Arjuna would be invincible in water, and water-dwelling animals would be subsevient to him. After this, Ulūpī gave birth to a son, worthy in all aspects– that son was called Irābvān. After that, Ulūpī always maintained her relation with Arjuna, considered him as her husband for the whole of her life. But she never claimed any position of respect, which was due to him as Arjuna̍s wife, from Hastināpura. WE can find Ulūpī again in Āśvamedhika parva. There, Arjuna reached the kingdom of Maṇipura, along with the horse of Aśvamedha. Arjuna also married Citrāṅgadā, princess of Maṇipura, after meeting Ulūpī. Vabhruvāhana, son of Citrāṅgadā, welcomed his father. But Arjuna was not happy with this behaviour of his son. He considered it cowardice, and rebuke Vabhruvāhana. At that time, Ulūpī emerged from the underworld, introduced herself as the stepmother of Vabhruvāhana, and said, Vabhruvāhana̍s dharma would be maintained if he fights his father who seeks to fight. So Vabhruvāhana should obey his father. Encouraged by Ulūpī, Vabhruvāhana started fighting Arjuna. During the battle, Arjuna seemed to be killed by a blow from his son. hearing the news, Citrāṅadā, mother of Vabhruvāhana, came to the battlefield. she blamed Ulūpī for the death of Arjuna, saying, “You have encouraged my son to fight against Arjuna. It is brcause of you that Arjuna got killed.” Vabhruvāhana was also very upset, considering himself to be the murderer of his own father. Ulūpī consoled both Citrāṅgadā and Vabhruvāhana, saying that Arjuna was invincible. It was not possible for Vabhruvāhana to kill Arjuna. She asked Citrāṅgadā to rest assured, and said that she would revive Arjuna. She invoked the miraculous sanjīvanī jewel from Nāgaloka, and said to Vabhruvāhana that Arjuna would come back to life if the jewel was placed upon his breast. As per her instruction, the moment Vabhruvāhana touched Arjuna̍s breast with the jewel, he came back to consciousness, and sat up, as if woken from sleep. Seeing both Ulūpī and Citrāṅgadā, he was rather afraid that Ulūpī had been in some kind of conflict with Vabhruvāhana and Citrāṅgadā. Later, he came to know everything from Ulūpī. For killing Bhīṣma, holding Śikhaṇḍī in front, and considering the grief of Gaṅgā for that, the Vasu(s) cursed Arjuna that he would have to live in Naraka. Ulūpī heard about that curse and informed his father. Then Kauravya Nāga went to the Vasu(s) and appealed to them to take the curse back. The Vasu(s) said, if Arjuna̍s son Vabhruvāhana could defeat him in the battlefield, the curse would be removed. That was why Ulūpī encouraged Vabhruvāhana to fight.
Arjuna was glad to know this.
Inviting Vabhruvāhana, Citrāṅgadā along with Ulūpī to attend the Aśvamedha yajña of king Yudhiṣṭhira, on the Caitra-Pūrṇimā, Arjuna took his leave. In due time, Vabhruvāhana came to Hastināpura, along with his two mothers, Ulūpī and Citrāṅgadā.
Ulūpī was cordially welcomed by Kuntī, Draupadī and Subhadrā. After the Aśvamedha yajñ, Ulūpī stayed in Hastināpura, and was engaged in serving Gāndhārī. After the five Pāṇḍava(s) set out for Mahāprasthāna, Ulūpī did not stay in Hastināpura, nor did she go back to her father̍s house, but jumped into the bosom of Gaṅgā–
viveśa gaṅgāṃ kauravya ulūpī bhujagātmajā.