| Ulupi | |
|---|---|
 Arjuna meets Ulupi | |
| Information | |
| Affiliation | Naga |
| Family | Kauravya (father) |
| Spouse | Arjuna |
| Children | Iravan |
| Relatives | Kunti (mother-in-law), Pandavas (brothers-in-law), Draupadi, Chitrangada, Subhadra (co-wives) |
Ulupi (Ulūpī), also known asUluchi andUlupika, is aNaga princess mentioned in theHindu epicMahabharata. Ulupi is the daughter of theking Kauravya, and is the second wife ofArjuna. She also finds a mention in theVishnu Purana and theBhagavata Purana.[1]
Ulupi is said to have met and married Arjuna when he was in exile, and with whom she bore his sonIravan. She played a major part in the upbringing ofBabruvahana, Arjuna's son withChitrangada. She is also credited with redeeming Arjuna from the curse of theVasus by restoring his life after he was slain in a battle by Babruvahana.
Little is said about Ulupi in theMahabharata. Ulupi is known by numerous names in theMahabharata—Bhujagātmajā, Bhujagendrakanyakā, Bhujagottamā Kauravī, Kauravyaduhitā, Kauravyakulanandinī, Pannaganandinī, Pannagasutā, Pannagātmajā, Pannageśvarakanyā, Pannagī, and Uragātmajā.[2]
Ulupi is described as a mythical form of aNāgakanyā (Nāga princess), half-maiden and half-serpent.[3] Wm. Michael Mott in hisCaverns, Cauldrons, and Concealed Creatures described Ulupi as "partly reptilian" – the portion below the waist resembles that of a snake or a crocodile.[4][5]
Ulupi was the daughter of theNaga King Kauravya.[6][7] Her father ruled the underwater kingdom of serpents in theGanga river.[8] She was a well-trained warrior.[9]
Arjuna, the thirdPandava brother, was exiled fromIndraprastha, the capital city of the kingdom, to go on a twelve-year pilgrimage as a penance for violating the terms of his marriage toDraupadi, the brothers' common wife. Accompanied byBrahmins, Arjuna went to thenorth eastern region of present-day India.[10]
One day, when Arjuna was bathing in theGanga river to perform his rituals, the Naga princess Ulupi, grasps him and pulls him into the river.[11] She holds him with her hands and forces him to travel under her will. They finally end up in an underwater kingdom, the abode of Kauravya. Arjuna comes across a sacrificial fire there and offers his rites to the fire.Agni is pleased with Arjuna's unhesitating offering of oblations.[8]
Still smiling, Arjuna enquires Ulupi about her background, to which she responds thus:[12]
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 you descend into the stream to perform your 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 you, O you of Kuru’s race, gratify me today by giving thyself up to me.'
— Vyasa,Mahabharata, Arjuna-vanava Parva, Section 216
Arjuna, however, declines her proposal citing his celibacy on his pilgrimage. Ulupi argues that his celibacy is limited only toDraupadi, Arjuna's first wife.[13] Convinced by her argument, Arjuna marries her, spending the night in the mansion of the Naga and rose with the sun in the morning.[14] Later, a son namedIravan was born to them.[8] Pleased by Arjuna, Ulupi grants him a boon that every amphibious creature shall, without doubt, be capable of being vanquished by him.[11][15]
Ulupi loses her son Iravan in theKurukshetra War, where he is slain fighting on his father's side.
TheVasus,Bhishma's brothers, cursed Arjuna after he killed Bhishma through treachery in the Kurukshetra War.[16][17] When Ulupi heard of the curse, she sought the help of her father, Kauravya. Her father went to the river goddessGanga, Bhishma's mother, and requested her for a relief from the curse. Upon hearing him, Ganga said that Arjuna would be killed by his own son,Babruvahana—Arjuna's son throughChitrangada—and brought back to life when Ulupi placed a gem calledNagamani on his chest.[17]
Following her father's advice, Ulupi instigates Babruvāhana to fight Arjuna.[17] When Arjuna goes toManipura with the horse intended for theAshvamedha sacrifice,[16] the king Babruvahana, as directed by Ulupi, challenges Arjuna to a duel. In the fierce battle that took place between them, both are mangled by the other's arrows. Finally, Arjuna is mortally wounded and is killed by his son when he shoots a powerful arrow at him.[18] Chitrangada rushes to the spot and abuses Ulupi for instigating Babruvahana to fight Arjuna.[17] Repenting of his deed, Babruvahana is determined to kill himself, but is promptly stopped by Ulupi. She goes to her kingdom and brings the Nagamani. When she places the Nagamani on Arjuna's chest, his life is restored, thus relieving him of the Vasus' curse.[19] When brought back to his life, Arjuna becomes happy to see Ulupi, Chitrangada, and Babruvahana. He takes all of them toHastinapura.[17]
Upon the onset of theKali Yuga, thePandavas along withDraupadi retired and left the throne to their only heir Arjuna's grandson,Parikshit. Giving up all their belongings and ties, they made their final journey of pilgrimage to the Himalayas, accompanied by a dog. Ulupi went back to her kingdom in the Ganga river.[20]
