ir 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