After Arjuna returned to the palace, he solemnly declared that he would go into exile since he failed to abide by his vows.
The other Pandavas forbade and Yudhishthira sadly said that what Arjuna had done was in order to protect a Brahmana and entering the elder brother’s chamber is not wrong.
Arjuna said that Dharma must not be twisted and a promise once made must be kept. Refusing to stay he voluntarily accepted the punishment.
With Yudhishthira’s permission, Arjuna took vows of celibacy (Brahmacharya) and left for a 12 year exile and as Arjuna left for his exile, many sages, Brahmanas, and storytellers followed him.
Arjuna travelled across many kingdoms and sacred pilgrimage sites, regularly performing yajnas and chanting Vedic rituals. Eventually, he reached the holy river, Ganga.
One day, after bathing in the river Ganga and offering water to his ancestors, he was preparing to leave when suddenly he was pulled underwater by Ulupi, the daughter of the Naga king Kouravya.