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When Arjuna was pulled underwater by Ulupi, he entered the Nagaloka where he noticed the sacred fires.

Only after completing his religious duties, he asked Ulupi who she was because he never neglected dharma.

Ulupi answered that she was the daughter of Kouravya, the Naga King, and had been deeply attracted to Arjuna. She asked Arjuna to accept her. However, Arjuna refused, stating that he was observing a 12-year exile and was following brahmacharya.

Ulupi told Arjuna that she knew the reason for his exile and that the vow was specifically for Draupadi, and accepting her would not violate his vow. She said that if Arjuna rejected her, she would die from grief and added that helping someone in distress is dharma.

Agreeing to Ulupi’s reasoning, Arjuna spent his night in Nagaloka and, as he fulfilled Ulupi’s wish, she granted him a boon that no creature living in water would be able to overpower him.

The next morning, Arjuna departed from Nagaloka and continued his exile. Ulupi later gave birth to a son named Iravan.

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.

The Pandavas along with Draupadi lived happily in Indraprastha, as their kingdom flourished, but one day, their peace was disturbed when a few thieves stole a Brahmana’s cattle.

The Brahmana arrived at the palace, distressed and angry. He complained to the Pandavas about the theft.

Hearing the Brahmana’s cries, Arjuna promised to save the cattle. In order to get the weapons, Arjuna had to enter Draupadi’s chamber as the weapons were kept there, but Draupadi was present there along with Yudhishthira.

Arjuna was in a fix. If he went into Draupadi’s chamber, he would break his vow and would have to undergo 12 years of exile. But if he did not, then he would not be able to fulfil his duty as a Kshatriya.

Arjuna decided that Dharma (righteousness) must be protected even if he had to go into exile. So, he entered Draupadi’s chamber and with Yudhishthira’s permission collected his weapons, breaking the rule. Arjuna mounted his chariot and recovered the stolen cattle from the thieves and returned them to the Brahmana.

After narrating the story, Narada warned the Pandavas that even the strongest bond between brothers can collapse if rivalry over a woman arises, and this is why the Pandavas also must protect their unity and establish strict rules regarding Draupadi.

After hearing Narada’s warning, the Pandavas understood the danger of jealousy and they agreed to strictly follow the rules already established, and vowed to protect their unity regarding Draupadi.

The rule was that Draupadi should be with one brother for a period of one year, and if any brother entered their chamber while Draupadi was with another brother, he would undergo exile for twelve years.

After hearing their words, Narada blessed them and departed from Indraprastha.

While everything in Indraprastha was going well, a Brahmana came seeking help because thieves had stolen his cattle.

In order to save the cattle, Arjuna needed his weapons, but the weapons were kept in the chamber where Draupadi was with Yudhishthira.

Vishvakarma collected all the beauty from the Triloka and created an apsara named Tilottama, who was named so because she was created by bits and pieces of gems.

Tilottama’s beauty was so extraordinary that all beings were mesmerised by her. She was directed by Lord Brahma to distract the two asura brothers, Sunda and Upasunda, in a way that she would create a rift and turn them against each other.

As Sunda and Upasunda were drinking along a riverbank in the Vindhya Mountains, Tilottama appeared. When the asura brothers saw Tilottama’s radiant beauty, they became mesmerised and wanted to marry her, and this was when their unity broke.

Each brother claimed Tilottama for himself and neither was willing to let her go. Slowly, their affection turned into possessiveness, and soon into rage, which led to the brothers attacking one another.

A terrible duel took place between the two brothers, and finally, the brothers killed each other. Their unity made them invincible, but the rivalry over a woman became the cause of their destruction.

One day, Narada visited the Pandavas and they received him respectfully and with great honour. He observed the prosperity of the kingdom and the unity of the brothers.

He also observed their unique marriage and understood that this arrangement could someday become dangerous.  

Later, Narada warned them that even loving brothers could become enemies if rivalry over a woman arose, and in order to explain this statement, he narrated the story of Sunda and Upasunda.

Sunda and Upasunda were two asura brothers who were deeply loyal to one another and were inseparable. The brothers ruled together and shared everything.

They performed severe austerities and pleased Lord Brahma, who granted them a boon. The brothers cleverly asked that no being in existence should be able to kill them except each other.

After receiving the boon, the brothers became arrogant and disturbed yajnas. The devas, fearing the asura brothers, approached Lord Brahma, who ordered Vishvakarma to create a beautiful apsara named Tilottama.

After the Pandavas arrived at Khandavaprastha, they selected an auspicious land and performed sacred rituals in order to purify the land with the help of Vyasa and Krishna.

After the purification of the land, the city was measured properly and they began planning the capital. The artisans, craftsmen, and architects designed the roads, palaces, gardens, and mansions. The city was built according to royal traditions.

The city was soon filled with grand palaces, gardens, and lakes, making it look beautiful and radiant like heaven. Therefore, the city came to be known as “Indraprastha” in reference to the celestial city of Lord Indra.

As time went by, many merchants, Brahmanas, craftsmen, scholars, nobles, and artisans arrived at Indraprastha and soon the city became prosperous, independent, and wealthy, making it one of the greatest cities across Aryavarta.

As Indraprastha prospered and was no longer dependent on Hastinapur, Duryodhana became increasingly disturbed and jealous.

After resting for a while, the Pandavas came to the royal court and took their respective seats. Later, Dhritarashtra addressed Yudhishthira and said that in order to avoid further conflict within the Kuru family, the kingdom must be divided.

After the division, a wild barren land, Khandavaprastha, was given to the Pandavas, and Duryodhana kept the prosperous Hastinapur.

Though Khandavaprastha was a rough and barren land that was difficult to inhabit, the Pandavas accepted Dhritarashtra’s decision respectfully, while the Kauravas remained in Hastinapur.

But the decision of Dhritarashtra was not out of generosity, it was in order to satisfy the Pandavas while protecting Duryodhana’s position in Hastinapur.

The Pandavas sought blessings from the Kuru elders and departed for Khandavaprastha, along with Kunti, Draupadi, and attendants.

With the guidance and support of Krishna and Vyasa, they reached Khandavaprastha.

In the court of Panchala, though King Drupada was cautious about the Pandavas returning to Hastinapur, Krishna supported the proposal and his words carried great influence in the assembly.

The Pandavas and their mother, Kunti, agreed to return because they wished to preserve unity within the Kuru dynasty.

King Drupada honoured the Pandavas and gave them wealth, ornaments, and royal gifts and then the Pandavas bid farewell and departed towards Hastinapur, along with Kunti, Draupadi, Krishna and Vidura.

When they reached Hastinapur, the citizens of Hastinapur rejoiced and praised Yudhishthira for his righteousness and remembered King Pandu with great affection.

The affection and admiration of the people towards the Pandavas deeply troubled Duryodhana and Shakuni.

They were then welcomed by the Kuru elders and the Pandavas paid respect to them.

After a while, the Pandavas were summoned to the royal court by Dhritarashtra.

During the discussions in the Kuru court, Bhishma and Vidura advised Dhritarashtra to abandon ideas of hostility towards the Pandavas and reminded him that the Pandavas, the sons of Pandu, were the rightful heirs of the Kuru dynasty.

Bhishma, Dronacharya and Vidura advised Dhritarashtra to make peace with the Pandavas instead of creating conflict within the family. Finally, Dhritarashtra decided to invite the Pandavas back to Hastinapur.

Dhritarashtra asked Vidura to go to Panchala as an envoy and bring the Pandavas, Kunti and Draupadi, back with honour.

Vidura travelled to Panchala and was warmly welcomed by King Drupada. He affectionately embraced the Pandavas and enquired about the well-being of both them and Kunti. Later, he conveyed Dhritarashtra’s message and informed them that the Kuru elders wished for the Pandavas to return to Hastinapur.

Dwarkadhish Krishna, who was present in the court, supported the reconciliation as he knew that it was the destiny of the Pandavas, though Drupada still remained cautious about the Pandavas returning to Hastinapur.