Kauravya

Kauravya was the king of a nāga clan, a ruler in the underwater nāga world. He was the father of Ulūpī. His name marks him as one of the Kauravya clan of nāgas.

Father of Ulūpī

The Ādi Parva of the Mahābhārata names Kauravya as the father of the nāga princess Ulūpī. Ulūpī drew Arjuna into the underwater realm at Gaṅgādvāra. There she entered into a brief marriage with him.

As she presents herself to Arjuna, Ulūpī says that she is the daughter of Kauravya, king of the nāgas. The palace into which she brought Arjuna belonged to Kauravya’s realm. It was luminous and magnificent, and it befitted a nāga king of high standing.

Kauravya does not appear in the account in person. His household and lineage are the setting of the meeting between Ulūpī and Arjuna. In that meeting Ulūpī spoke with Arjuna about dharma and granted him boons.

Sources

• Mahābhārata, Ādi Parva, Chapter 214