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.
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