The story of Ulupi, the Naga princess and second wife of Arjuna, is a fascinating episode in the great epic Mahabharata.

Who Was Ulupi?

•A Naga Princess: Ulupi was the daughter of the Naga (serpent) King Kauravya, who ruled an underwater kingdom in the Ganga river. She is often described as a Naga Kanya, sometimes depicted as being half-maiden and half-serpent.

•A Widow: Before meeting Arjuna, Ulupi was a widow.

(fig 1 : Statue of Ulupi ( a depiction of her))

The Meeting and Marriage with Arjuna:

•Arjuna's Exile: Arjuna was observing a twelve-year period of exile (pilgrimage) as penance for unintentionally violating a pact he had made with his brothers regarding their common wife, Draupadi.

•The Incident: While Arjuna was bathing in the Ganga river, Ulupi, who had fallen in love with him, used her mystical powers to pull him down into her underwater Naga kingdom (Nagaloka).

(fig2 : Ulupi taking arjun to Nag Kingdom)
•The Plea: Ulupi confessed her love and desire to marry him. Arjuna was initially hesitant due to his vow of celibacy (Brahmacharya) during his exile. Ulupi convinced him that his vow of celibacy only applied to not disturbing Draupadi's time with his brothers, and that marrying her would not violate his dharma.
•The Union: Arjuna agreed to her request, and they married. They spent a night together, and she subsequently bore him a son named Iravan.

(fig3 : Ulupi and Arjun)

Ulupi's Contributions and Powers:

•The Boon: Before Arjuna left Nagaloka to continue his exile, Ulupi bestowed upon him a powerful boon: he would be invincible in water, and all aquatic creatures would obey him.
• Protecting Arjuna's Sons: She played an active role in the upbringing of Babhruvahana, Arjuna's son with his third wife, Chitrangada.
•Restoring Arjuna's Life: This is one of Ulupi's most significant acts.
•Later in the epic, Arjuna was cursed by the Vasus (celestial beings) for slaying Bhishma during the Kurukshetra War. The curse dictated that Arjuna would be killed by his own son.
•During the Ashvamedha Yajna (horse sacrifice) after the war, Arjuna was slain in battle by Babhruvahana (unaware he was fighting his father).

•Ulupi arrived at the scene and, using the powerful Nagamani (serpent jewel) or a special Sanjeevani gem, resurrected Arjuna, thus fulfilling the curse's conditions and simultaneously freeing him from its ill effects.

(fig 4 : Ulupi saving Arjun's life)
Ulupi is a powerful and devoted figure who steps into Arjuna's life at crucial moments, playing the role of wife, mother, and savior. Her story highlights the importance of the Naga world in Hindu mythology and the concept of a love that transcends boundaries and even death.

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