At the sacred Udapāna tīrtha on the Sarasvatī river, Baladeva bathed with reverence and honored the Brahmanas. This holy site was once where sage Trita, after being deceitfully abandoned by his brothers Ekata and Dvita, fell into a deep well. Undeterred, Trita mentally performed an entire Vedic yajña using stones, creepers, and pebbles as sacred substitutes, astonishing the heavens with his spiritual power.
The gods, led by Bṛhaspati, descended to receive their offerings and, impressed by Trita's devotion, granted him two boons: freedom from the well and that anyone bathing there would gain the merit of drinking Soma. The Sarasvatī river then surged forth, lifting the sage from the pit. Trita, upon returning, cursed his brothers to become beasts for their betrayal, and their lineages to become wild animals.
Recognizing the divine history of the place, Baladeva glorified the Udapāna tīrtha and continued his pilgrimage toward Vinaśana, where the Sarasvatī disappears.
Read full synopsis here (scrolls to the bottom of the page).
वैशम्पायन उवाच
तस्मान्नदीगतांचापि ह्युदपानं यशस्विनः।
त्रितस्य च महाराजजगामाथ हलायुधः ॥१॥
vaiśampāyana uvāca
tasmānnadīgatāṃ cāpi hyudapānaṃ yaśasvinaḥ |
tritasya ca mahārāja jagāmātha halāyudhaḥ || 1||
Vaiśampāyana said: From there, Baladeva, the wielder of the plow, proceeded to the sacred Udapāna tīrtha on the banks of the Sarasvatī river, which had once been the hermitage of the illustrious sage Trita, O King!
तत्र दत्त्वा बहु द्रव्यंपूजयित्वा तथा द्विजान्।
उपस्पृश्य च तत्रैवप्रहृष्टो मुसलायुधः ॥ २ ॥
tatra dattvā bahu dravyaṃ pūjayitvā tathā dvijān |
upaspṛśya ca tatraiva prahṛṣṭo musalāyudhaḥ || 2 ||
Having offered abundant wealth and worshipped the Brāhmaṇas, the mighty Baladeva, wielder of the plow, bathed in the sacred waters there and felt great joy.
तत्र धर्मपरो भूत्वा त्रितःस सुमहातपाः ।
कूपे च वसतातेन सोमः पीतोमहात्मना ॥ ३॥
tatra dharmaparo bhūtvā tritaḥ sa sumahātapāḥ |
kūpe ca vasatā tena somaḥ pīto mahātmanā || 3 ||
In ancient times, the great sage Trita, devoted to Dharma and penance, resided there. Through divine circumstances, he fell into a well, where he performed a yajña and drank Soma, the celestial nectar.
तत्र चैनं समुत्सृज्यभ्रातरौ जग्मतुर्गृहान् ।
ततस्तौ वै शशापाथत्रितो ब्राह्मणसत्तमः ॥४॥
tatra cainaṃ samutsṛjya bhrātarau jagmaturgṛhān |
tatastau vai śaśāpātha trito brāhmaṇasattamaḥ || 4||
His two brothers, Ekata and Dvita, abandoned him there and returned home. Thus, the noble Brāhmaṇa Trita, overcome with anger, cursed them.
जनमेजय उवाच
उदपानं कथं ब्रह्मन्कथं च सुमहातपाः।
पतितः किं चसंत्यक्तो भ्रातृभ्यां द्विजसत्तम ॥५ ॥
janamejaya uvāca
udapānaṃ kathaṃ brahman kathaṃ ca sumahātapāḥ |
patitaḥ kiṃ ca saṃtyakto bhrātṛbhyāṃ dvijasattama || 5 ||
King Janamejaya asked: "O revered Brāhmaṇa! How did the sacred Udapāna tīrtha originate? How did the great ascetic Trita fall into the well? Why did his brothers abandon him there, O foremost of sages?"
कूपे कथं चहित्वैनं भ्रातुरौ जग्मुतुर्गृहान् ।
कथं च याजयामासपपौ सोमं त वै कथम्॥ ६ ॥
एतदाचक्ष्व मे ब्रह्मञ्श्रोतव्यंयदि मन्यसे ।
kūpe kathaṃ ca hitvainaṃ bhrāturau jagmuturgṛhān |
kathaṃ ca yājayāmāsa papau somaṃ ta vai katham || 6 ||
etadācakṣva me brahmañśrotavyaṃ yadi manyase |
How did his brothers leave him in the well and return home? How did he perform a yajña inside the well, and how did he drink Soma? O Brāhmaṇa, if you consider me worthy, please reveal this tale!
वैशम्पायन उवाच
आसन् पूर्वयुगे राजन् मुनयोभ्रातरस्त्रयः ॥ ७॥
एकतश्च द्वितश्चैव त्रितश्चादित्य संनिभाः।
vaiśampāyana uvāca
āsan pūrvayuge rājan munayo bhrātarastrayaḥ || 7 ||
ekataśca dvitaścaiva tritaścāditya saṃnibhāḥ |
Vaiśampāyana said: In ancient times, O King, there lived three sage brothers: Ekata, Dvita and Trita. They shone with radiance like the Sun, possessing immense wisdom and divine knowledge.
सर्वे प्रजापतिसमाः प्रजावन्तस्तथैव च॥ ८ ॥
ब्रह्मलोकजिताःसर्वे तपसा ब्रह्मवादिनः।
तेषां तु तपसाप्रीतो नियमेन दमेनच ॥ ९ ॥
sarve prajāpatisamāḥ prajāvantastathaiva ca || 8 ||
brahmalokajitāḥ sarve tapasā brahmavādinaḥ |
teṣāṃ tu tapasā prīto niyamena damena ca || 9 ||
These three were like the Prajāpatis, they possessed great lineages, they had mastered the Brahma world through penance and Vedic wisdom.
Their austere discipline, self-control, and strict adherence to Dharma pleased the divine forces.
अभवद् गौतमो नित्यंपिता धर्मरतः सदा।
स तु दीर्घेणकालेन तेषां प्रीतिमवाप्यच ॥ १० ॥
abhavad gautamo nityaṃ pitā dharmarataḥ sadā |
sa tu dīrgheṇa kālena teṣāṃ prītimavāpya ca || 10 ||
Their father, the righteous Gautama, was devoted to Dharma. Over time, he developed deep affection for his three sons.
जगाम् भगवान् स्थानमनुरूपमिवात्मन: ।
राजानस्तस्य ये ह्यासान्याज्या राजन् महात्मनः॥ ११॥
jagām bhagavān sthānamanurūpamivātmana: |
rājānastasya ye hyāsān yājyā rājan mahātmanaḥ || 11||
After living a long and righteous life in this world, the worshipful sage Gautama—exceptionally pleased with his sons—ascended to a realm befitting his merits.
ते सर्वे स्वर्गतेतस्मिंस्तस्य पुत्रानपूजयन् ।
तेषां तु कर्मणाराजंस्तथा चाध्ययनेन च ॥ १२ ॥
te sarve svargate tasmiṃstasya putrānapūjayan |
teṣāṃ tu karmaṇā rājaṃstathā cādhyayanena ca || 12 ||
After Gautama’s ascension to heaven, his disciples and royal patrons continued to honor his sons through sacrificial rites and reverence for their Vedic knowledge, O King!
त्रितः स श्रेष्ठतांप्राप यथैवास्य पितातथा ।
tritaḥ sa śreṣṭhatāṃ prāpa yathaivāsya pitā tathā |
Among them, Trita became the most illustrious, just as his father Gautama had been in his time.
तथा सर्वे महाभागमुनयः पुण्यलक्षणा ॥१३ ॥
अपूजयन् महाभागं यथास्य पितरंतथा ।
tathā sarve mahābhāga munayaḥ puṇyalakṣaṇā || 13 ||
apūjayan mahābhāgaṃ yathāsya pitaraṃ tathā |
All the great ascetics, who possessed auspicious signs, began to revere Trita just as they had once revered Gautama.
कदाचिद्धि ततो राजन्भ्रातरवेकतद्वितौ ।। १४।।
यज्ञार्थं चक्रतुश्चिन्तां तथा वित्तार्थमेवच।
kadāciddhi tato rājan bhrātaravekatadvitau || 14 ||
yajñārthaṃ cakratuścintāṃ tathā vittārthameva ca|
Once, O King, Trita’s two brothers, Ekata and Dvita, became anxious about performing a sacrifice and acquiring wealth.
तयोर्बुद्धिःसमभवत् त्रितं गृह्यपरंतप ॥ १५ ॥
याज्यान् सर्वानुपादाय प्रतिगृह्य पशूंस्ततः।
सोमं पास्यामहे हृष्टाः प्राप्ययज्ञं महाफलम् ॥१६ ॥
चक्रुश्चैवं तथा राजन्भ्रातरस्त्रय एव च।
tayorbuddhiḥ samabhavat tritaṃ gṛhya paraṃtapa || 15 ||
yājyān sarvānupādāya pratigṛhya paśūṃstataḥ |
somaṃ pāsyāmahe hṛṣṭāḥ prāpya yajñaṃ mahāphalam || 16 ||
cakruścaivaṃ tathā rājan bhrātarastraya eva ca|
Those two schemed together, O tormentor of foes, and devised a plan— They would take Trita along and perform the sacrificial rites, Having collected all required offerings and received many animals as gifts, They joyfully declared, "We shall drink the divine Soma and attain the great fruits of this yajña!" Thus, all three brothers prepared for the sacrifice.
तथा ते तुपरिक्रम्य याज्यान् सर्वान् पशून्प्रति ॥ १७ ॥
याजयित्वा ततो याज्याँल्लळवातु सुबहून पशून्।
याज्येन कर्मणा तेनप्रतिगृह्य विधानतः ॥ १८ ॥
प्राचीं दिशं महात्मानआज्गमुस्ते महर्षयः ।
tathā te tu parikramya yājyān sarvān paśūn prati || 17 ||
yājayitvā tato yājyāṁllaḻavā tu subahūna paśūn|
yājyena karmaṇā tena pratigṛhya vidhānataḥ || 18 ||
prācīṃ diśaṃ mahātmāna ājgamuste maharṣayaḥ |
They traveled far and wide, gathering sacrificial animals and performing yajñas. Having completed the rites and received abundant livestock as priestly fees, Those great Ṛṣis, filled with high aspirations, proceeded eastward.
त्रितस्तेषांमहाराज पुरस्ताद् यातिहृष्टवत् ॥ १९॥
एकतश्च द्वितश्चैव पृष्टतः कालयन्पशून् ।
tritasteṣāṃ mahārāja purastād yāti hṛṣṭavat || 19 ||
ekataśca dvitaścaiva pṛṣṭataḥ kālayan paśūn |
The cheerful Trita walked ahead, O King, while Ekata and Dvita followed behind, herding the animals.
तयोश्चिन्ता समभवद् दृष्ट्वापशुगणं महत् ॥ २०॥
कथं च स्युरिमागाव आवाभ्यां हिविना त्रितम् ।
tayościntā samabhavad dṛṣṭvā paśugaṇaṃ mahat || 20||
kathaṃ ca syurimā gāva āvābhyāṃ hi vinā tritam |
Upon seeing the vast herd of cattle, A wicked thought arose in their minds: "How can we take possession of this wealth without sharing it with Trita?"
तावन्योन्यं समाभाष्य एकतश्च द्वितश्चह ।। २१ ।
यदूचतुर्मिथःपापौ तन्निबोध जनेश्वर।
tāvanyonyaṃ samābhāṣya ekataśca dvitaśca ha || 21 |
yadūcaturmithaḥ pāpau tannibodha janeśvara |
Then, those two sinful brothers, Ekata and Dvita, spoke among themselves, O King, hear now the wicked plot they devised!
त्रितो यज्ञेषु कुशलस्त्रितो वेदेषुनिष्ठितः ॥ २२॥
अन्यास्तु बहुला गावस्त्रितःसमुपलप्स्यते ।
trito yajñeṣu kuśalastrito vedeṣu niṣṭhitaḥ || 22||
anyāstu bahulā gāvastritaḥ samupalapsyate |
Ekata and Dvita said to each other, "Trita is well-versed in sacrificial rites. He is deeply established in the Vedas. He is capable of earning many other cattle on his own."
तदावां सहितौ भूत्वागाः प्रकाल्य व्रजावहे॥ २३ ॥
त्रितोऽपि गच्छतां कममावभ्यां वैविना कृतः ।
tadāvāṃ sahitau bhūtvā gāḥ prakālya vrajāvahe || 23 ||
trito'pi gacchatāṃ kamamāvabhyāṃ vai vinā kṛtaḥ |
"Let us two take these cattle for ourselves and depart together. As for Trita, let him go wherever he pleases, without our company."
तेषामागच्छतांरात्रौ पथिस्थानां वृकोऽभवत्॥ २४ ॥
तत्र कूपोऽविदूरेऽभूत् सरस्वत्यास्तटे महान्।
teṣāmāgacchatāṃ rātrau pathisthānāṃ vṛko'bhavat || 24 ||
tatra kūpo'vidūre'bhūt sarasvatyāstaṭe mahān|
While they were traveling at night, a fierce wolf appeared before them on the path. Nearby, on the great bank of the Sarasvati, there was a deep and formidable well.
अद्य त्रितो वृकंदृष्ट्वा पथि तिष्ठन्तमग्रतः॥ २५ ॥
तद्भयादपसर्पन्वै तस्मिन् कूपेपपात ह ।
adya trito vṛkaṃ dṛṣṭvā pathi tiṣṭhantamagrataḥ || 25 ||
tadbhayādapasarpan vai tasmin kūpe papāta ha |
Trita, who was walking ahead of his brothers, suddenly saw the wolf standing before him on the path. Terrified, he attempted to step back but fell straight into the well.
अगाधे सुमहाघोरे सर्वभूतभयंकरे ॥२६ ॥
त्रितस्ततो महाराज कूपस्थोमुनिसत्तमः ।
agādhe sumahāghore sarvabhūtabhayaṃkare || 26 ||
tritastato mahārāja kūpastho munisattamaḥ |
The well was deep, dreadful, and capable of instilling fear in all beings. Finding himself trapped, the great ascetic Trita lamented, O king!
आर्तनाद ततश्चक्रे तौ तु शुश्रुवतुर्मुनी ॥ २७ ॥
तं ज्ञात्वा पतितं कूपे भ्रातरावेकतद्वितौ।
वृकत्रासाच लोभाच्च समुत्सृज्य प्रजग्मतुः ॥ २८ ॥
ārtanāda tataścakre tau tu śuśruvaturmunī || 27 ||
taṃ jñātvā patitaṃ kūpe bhrātarāvekatadvitau|
vṛkatrāsāca lobhācca samutsṛjya prajagmatuḥ || 28 ||
Hearing his pitiful cries, his brothers realized that he had fallen into the dark abyss. Driven by fear of the wolf and greed for wealth, they abandoned Trita and quickly fled with the cattle.
भ्रातृभ्यां पशुलुब्धाभ्यामुत्सृष्टः स महातपाः ।
उदपाने तदा राजन् निर्जले पांसुसंवृते ॥ २९ ॥
त्रित आत्मानमालक्ष्य कूपे वीरुतृणावृते ।
bhrātṛbhyāṃ paśulubdhābhyāmutsṛṣṭaḥ sa mahātapāḥ |
udapāne tadā rājan nirjale pāṃsusaṃvṛte || 29 ||
trita ātmānamālakṣya kūpe vīrutṛṇāvṛte |
Thus, forsaken by his brothers blinded by greed, the great ascetic Trita found himself trapped in a dry well, covered in dust, O King!
निमग्नं भरतश्रेष्ट नरके दुष्कृती यथा ॥ ३० ॥
स बुद्ध्यागणयत् प्राज्ञो मृत्योर्भीतो ह्यसोमपः ।
nimagnaṃ bharataśreṣṭa narake duṣkṛtī yathā || 30 ||
sa buddhyāgaṇayat prājño mṛtyorbhīto hyasomapaḥ |
As he lay there, trapped amidst creepers and dry grasses, he felt like a sinner condemned to hell, O best among the Bharatas! But being wise and thoughtful, he began to reason with himself, fearing the approach of death, while longing for Soma.
सोमः कथं तु पातव्य इहस्थेन मया भवेत् ॥ ३१ ॥
स एवमभिनिश्चित्य तस्मिन् कूपे महातपाः ।
somaḥ kathaṃ tu pātavya ihasthena mayā bhavet || 31 ||
sa evamabhiniścitya tasmin kūpe mahātapāḥ |
"How can one drink Soma while being trapped in a well?" Thus reflecting, the great ascetic Trita made up his mind to survive.
ददर्श वीरुधं तत्र लम्बमानां यदृच्छया ॥ ३२॥
dadarśa vīrudhaṃ tatra lambamānāṃ yadṛcchayā || 32||
By chance, he noticed a creeper hanging down inside the well.
पांग्रस्ते ततः कूपे विचन्त्य सलिलं मुनिः ।
अग्नीन् संकल्पयामास होतॄनात्मानमेव च॥ ३३ ॥
pāṃgraste tataḥ kūpe vicantya salilaṃ muniḥ |
agnīn saṃkalpayāmāsa hotṝnātmānameva ca|| 33 ||
Though trapped in the well, the great sage Trita perceived in his mind the presence of water and sacrificial fires. With his mind as the priest, he envisioned himself performing a yajña (sacrifice).
ततस्तां वीरुधं सोमं संकल्प्य सुमहातपाः ।
ऋचो यजूंषि सामानि मनसा चिन्तयन् मुनिः ॥ ३४ ॥
tatastāṃ vīrudhaṃ somaṃ saṃkalpya sumahātapāḥ |
ṛco yajūṃṣi sāmāni manasā cintayan muniḥ || 34 ||
Then, imagining the hanging creeper as Soma, the great ascetic, with focused mind, mentally recalled and recited the hymns of the Rig, Yajur, and Sama Vedas.
ग्रावाणः शर्कराः कृत्वा प्रचक्रेऽभिषवं नृप ।
आज्यं च सलिलं चक्रे भागांश्च त्रिदिवौकसाम् ॥ ३५ ॥
grāvāṇaḥ śarkarāḥ kṛtvā pracakre'bhiṣavaṃ nṛpa |
ājyaṃ ca salilaṃ cakre bhāgāṃśca tridivaukasām || 35 ||
Considering stones as the sacrificial pressing stones and pebbles as grains of sugar, he ritually prepared the Soma-juice, O King. He offered water as clarified butter and apportioned shares to the celestials.
ससोमस्याभिषवं कृत्वा चकार विपुल ध्वनिम् ।
चाविशद् दिवं राजन् पुनः शब्दस्त्रितस्य वै ॥ ३६॥
समवाप्य च तं यज्ञ यथोक्तं ब्रह्मावादिभिः ।
sasomasyābhiṣavaṃ kṛtvā cakāra vipula dhvanim |
cāviśad divaṃ rājan punaḥ śabdastritasya vai || 36||
samavāpya ca taṃ yajña yathoktaṃ brahmāvādibhiḥ |
Having completed the Soma sacrifice mentally, he uttered a resounding invocation. His powerful chants ascended to the heavens, O King, filling the celestial realms with unprecedented vibrations.
Thus, Trita conducted his sacrifice in strict accordance with the prescriptions of the Brahmavadins (Vedic sages).
वर्तमाने महायज्ञे त्रितस्य सुमहात्मनः ।। ३७ ।।
आविग्नं त्रिदिवं सर्वं कारणं च न बुद्ध्यते ।
ततः सुतुमुलं शब्दं शुश्रावाथ बृहस्पतिः ॥ ३८ ॥
vartamāne mahāyajñe tritasya sumahātmanaḥ || 37 ||
āvignaṃ tridivaṃ sarvaṃ kāraṇaṃ ca na buddhyate |
tataḥ sutumulaṃ śabdaṃ śuśrāvātha bṛhaspatiḥ || 38 ||
As Trita’s grand sacrifice was in progress, the entire celestial realm trembled, overwhelmed by an inexplicable disturbance. Not knowing its cause, the divine sage Brihaspati heard the thunderous sound.
या चैवाब्रवीत सर्वान् देवान् देवपुरोहितः ।
त्रितस्य वर्तते यज्ञस्तत्र गच्छामहे सुराः ॥ ३९ ॥
yā caivābravīta sarvān devān devapurohitaḥ |
tritasya vartate yajñastatra gacchāmahe surāḥ || 39 ||
The celestial priest Brihaspati then addressed all the gods, "A yajña of Trita is underway! Let us all proceed there at once."
स हि क्रुद्धः सृजेदन्यान् देवानपि महातपाः ।
तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य सहिताः सर्वदेवताः ॥ ४० ॥
sa hi kruddhaḥ sṛjedanyān devānapi mahātapāḥ |
tacchrutvā vacanaṃ tasya sahitāḥ sarvadevatāḥ || 40 ||
Such a great ascetic, if angered, could create new gods by his sheer tapas (ascetic power)! Hearing this, the assembled deities hastily set out together.
प्रययुस्तत्र यत्रासौ त्रितयज्ञः प्रवर्तते ।
ते तत्र गत्वा विबुधास्तं कूपं यत्र स त्रितः ॥४१॥
prayayustatra yatrāsau tritayajñaḥ pravartate |
te tatra gatvā vibudhāstaṃ kūpaṃ yatra sa tritaḥ ||41||
The gods arrived at the site where Trita’s yajña was being performed. Upon reaching, they gazed into the deep well where the sage was trapped.
ददृशुस्तं महात्मानं दीक्षितं यज्ञकर्मसु ।
दृष्ट्वा चैनं महात्मानं श्रिया परमया युतम् ॥ ४२ ॥
dadṛśustaṃ mahātmānaṃ dīkṣitaṃ yajñakarmasu |
dṛṣṭvā cainaṃ mahātmānaṃ śriyā paramayā yutam || 42 ||
There, they beheld the great-souled Trita, engaged in his sacrificial rites. He shone radiantly, enveloped in divine splendor.
ऊचुश्चैनं महाभागं प्राप्ता भागार्थिनो वयम् ।
अथाब्रवीदृषिर्देवान् पश्यध्वं मां दिवौकसः ॥ ४३ ॥
ūcuścainaṃ mahābhāgaṃ prāptā bhāgārthino vayam |
athābravīdṛṣirdevān paśyadhvaṃ māṃ divaukasaḥ || 43 ||
The deities addressed the illustrious sage saying, "O blessed one! We have come to receive our shares of your sacrifice!"
अस्मिन् प्रतिभये कूपे निमग्नं नष्टचेतसम् ।
ततस्त्रितो महाराज भागांस्तेषां यथाविधि ॥ ४४॥
asmin pratibhaye kūpe nimagnaṃ naṣṭacetasam |
tatastrito mahārāja bhāgāṃsteṣāṃ yathāvidhi || 44||
Trapped in this dreadful well, nearly unconscious, Trita addressed the celestials: "Behold me, O denizens of heaven, fallen into this fearsome abyss!"
Then, Trita, O king, offered their shares in the sacrifice with precise mantras.
मन्त्रयुक्तान् समददत् ते च प्रीतास्तदाभवन् ।
mantrayuktān samadadat te ca prītāstadābhavan |
Having duly received their portions, the gods were filled with immense joy.
ततो यथाविधि प्राप्तान् भागान् प्राप्य दिवौकसः ॥ ४५॥
प्रीतात्मानो ददुस्तस्मै वरान् यान् मनसेच्छति ।
tato yathāvidhi prāptān bhāgān prāpya divaukasaḥ || 45||
prītātmāno dadustasmai varān yān manasecchati |
The pleased celestials said: "O Trita, ask for any boon that your heart desires!"
स तु वव्रे वरं देवांस्त्रातुमर्हथ मामितः ॥ ४६ ॥
यश्चेहोपस्पृशेत् कूपे स सोमपगतिं लभेत्।
sa tu vavre varaṃ devāṃstrātumarhatha māmitaḥ || 46 ||
yaścehopaspṛśet kūpe sa somapagatiṃ labhet|
Trita said: "Grant me, O gods, freedom from this pit!" "Further, let anyone who bathes here attain the same merit as one who has drunk Soma!"
तत्र चोर्मिमती राजन्नुत्पपात सरस्वती ॥ ४७ ॥
तयोत्क्षिप्तः समुत्तस्थौ पूजयंस्त्रिदिवौकसः ।
tatra cormimatī rājannutpapāta sarasvatī || 47 ||
tayotkṣiptaḥ samuttasthau pūjayaṃstridivaukasaḥ |
At that very moment, O King, the divine Sarasvati, with her roaring waves, miraculously sprang forth from the depths of the well. Lifted by her sacred waters, Trita rose up, emerging from the abyss. Upon gaining freedom, he offered obeisance to the gods.
तथेति चोक्त्वा विबुधा जग्मू राजन् यथागताः ॥ ४८ ॥
त्रितश्चाभ्यागमत् प्रीतः स्वमेव निलयं तदा ।
tatheti coktvā vibudhā jagmū rājan yathāgatāḥ || 48 ||
tritaścābhyāgamat prītaḥ svameva nilayaṃ tadā |
The celestials declared, "So be it!" They then departed for their respective realms.
Meanwhile, Trita, now freed and joyful, returned to his own hermitage, filled with divine grace.
क्रुद्धस्तु स समासाद्य तावृषी भ्रातरौ तदा ॥ ४९ ॥
उवाच परुषं वाक्यं शशाप च महातपाः ।
kruddhastu sa samāsādya tāvṛṣī bhrātarau tadā || 49 ||
uvāca paruṣaṃ vākyaṃ śaśāpa ca mahātapāḥ |
Later, encountering his two deceitful brothers, Trita, filled with righteous fury, spoke to them in harsh words. Endowed with great ascetic power, he cursed them, saying—
पशुलुब्धौ युवां यस्मान्मामुत्सृज्य प्रधावितौ ॥ ५० ॥
तस्माद् वृकाकृती रौद्रौ दंष्ट्रिणावभितश्च ।
भवितारौ मया शप्तौ पापेनानेन कर्मणा ॥ ५१||
paśulubdhau yuvāṃ yasmānmāmutsṛjya pradhāvitau || 50 ||
tasmād vṛkākṛtī raudrau daṃṣṭriṇāvabhitaśca |
bhavitārau mayā śaptau pāpenānena karmaṇā || 51||
Since, out of greed, you abandoned me and fled away, may you both become terrible, sharp-fanged wolves, roaming the forests, wild and dreaded! You shall bear the consequences of your sinful actions!
प्रसवश्चैव युवयोर्गोलाङ्गलर्क्षवानराः ।
इत्युक्तेन तदा तेन क्षणादेव विशाम्पते ॥ ५२ ॥
तथाभूतावदृश्येतां वचनात् सत्यवादिनः।
prasavaścaiva yuvayorgolāṅgalarkṣavānarāḥ |
ityuktena tadā tena kṣaṇādeva viśāmpate || 52 ||
tathābhūtāvadṛśyetāṃ vacanāt satyavādinaḥ|
Moreover, your descendants shall be hyenas, bears, and apes! As I have spoken, so it shall come to pass!
No sooner had he pronounced this curse, than the two brothers immediately transformed into fierce beasts, proving the power of the sage’s words.
तत्राप्यमितविक्रान्तः स्पृष्ट्वा तोयं हलायुधः ॥ ५३ ॥
दत्त्वा च विविधान् दायान् पूजयित्वा च वै द्विजान् ।
उदपानं च तं वीक्ष्य प्रशस्य च पुनः पुनः ॥ ५४ ॥
tatrāpyamitavikrāntaḥ spṛṣṭvā toyaṃ halāyudhaḥ || 53 ||
dattvā ca vividhān dāyān pūjayitvā ca vai dvijān |
udapānaṃ ca taṃ vīkṣya praśasya ca punaḥ punaḥ || 54 ||
The mighty Baladeva, upon arriving at the holy site of Udapana, touched its sacred waters and distributed gifts, reverently honoring the Brahmanas.
Beholding the sacred well, he praised it repeatedly, recognizing its great sanctity.
नदीगतमदीनात्मा प्राप्तो विनशनं तदा ॥ ५५ ॥
nadīgatamadīnātmā prāpto vinaśanaṃ tadā || 55 ||
Continuing his pilgrimage along the Sarasvati, arrived at the sacred Vinaśana (the place where the river disappears).
At the sacred tīrtha of Udapāna on the Sarasvatī river, the mighty Baladeva, known for his strength and devotion, bathed and honored the Brahmanas with gifts. This holy site was once the hermitage of the sage Trita, who performed an extraordinary yajña while trapped in a well. His tale is one of divine resolve and spiritual triumph.
Long ago, three sage brothers—Ekata, Dvita, and Trita—renowned for their austerities and Vedic knowledge, were sons of the revered sage Gautama. After Gautama's ascension to heaven, the brothers continued his legacy. Among them, Trita became the most esteemed. During a journey to perform a grand sacrifice, his brothers, driven by greed, plotted to abandon him and keep the sacrificial wealth.
While walking ahead, Trita encountered a fierce wolf and, in fear, fell into a deep well. Ekata and Dvita, instead of helping, fled with the wealth. Trapped in the well, covered in dust and creepers, Trita remained resolute. Using his deep knowledge of the Vedas, he mentally constructed a yajña, using stones as implements, creepers as Soma, and pebbles as offerings.
Trita's powerful chants reverberated through the heavens, alarming the gods. Led by Bṛhaspati, they arrived at the well and found the sage performing a divine yajña with radiant brilliance. Impressed, they offered him a boon. Trita asked to be freed from the well and that anyone who bathes in those waters attain the merit of drinking Soma.
Instantly, the river Sarasvatī burst forth from the earth, lifting Trita from the pit. The gods granted his wishes and departed. Freed and blessed, Trita returned to his hermitage. When he later confronted his brothers, he cursed them to become fierce, wild beasts for their betrayal, and their descendants to be hyenas and bears.
Baladeva, recognizing the sanctity of the place and Trita’s divine act, honored the Udapāna tīrtha and continued his pilgrimage toward Vinaśana, where the Sarasvatī river vanishes—reflecting upon the power of righteousness, penance, and divine intervention.