Gadayuddha Parva — The history of Udapana

Vaishampayana said Baladeva proceeded next to the tirtha Udapana in the Sarasvati, that had formerly been the habitation, O king, of the illustrious ascetic Trita.

Having distributed profuse wealth and worshipped the Brahmanas, the hero, having the plough for his weapon, bathed there and was filled with joy.

The great and pious ascetic Trita had lived there. While in a hole that great man had drunk the Soma juice.

His two brothers, dashing him down into a pit, had returned home. That foremost of Brahmanas, viz., Trita, had thereupon cursed them both."

Janamejaya said "What is the origin of Udapana? How did the great ascetic Trita fall into a pit there? Why was that foremost of Brahmanas thrown into that pit by his brothers?

How did his brothers, after throwing him into that hole, come back to their home? How did Trita celebrate his sacrifice and how did he drink Soma? Describe all his O Brahmana, if you think that I am worthy of listening to it.

Vaishampayana said In a former cycle, O king, there were three ascetic brothers. They were called Ekata, Dvita and Trita and all three were effulgent like the sun.

They were like Lords of the creation and had children. Brahmavadins as they were they had, by their ascetic penances, acquired the privilege of attaining to the regions of Brahman after death.

For their penances, vows and self-restraint, their father, the virtuous Gautama, became highly pleased with them.

Greatly pleased with his sons, the worshipful Gautama, after living a long life here, went at last to the region in the other world that was fit for him.

Those kings, however, O king, that were the disciples of Gautama, continued to worship Gautama's sons after his ascension to heaven.

Amongst them however, Trita, by his acts and Vedic studies, O king, became the foremost, even like his father Gautama.

Then all the great and pious ascetics began to worship Trita as they had worshipped his father Gautama before him.

Once upon a time, the two brothers Etaka and Dvita thought of celebrating a sacrifice and became anxious for wealth.

They thought that they would take Trita with them and calling upon all their disciples and collecting the needful number of animals, they would joyfully drink the Soma juice and acquire the great merits of sacrifice. The three brothers, then O king, did as settled.

Calling upon all their disciples for animals and helping them in their sacrifices and receiving a large number of animals from them as gifts for the priestly services rendered by them those high-souled and great Rishis came towards the east.

Trita, O king, was cheerfully walking before them. Ekata and Dvita were in his rear, conducting the animals.

Sceing that large herd of animals they began to think as to how they two could appropriate that property without giving a share to Trita.

Hear, O king, what those two sinful wretches, viz., Ekata and Dvita, said to each other.

They said-"Trita is a clever priest. Trita is well read in the Vedas. Trita is capable of earning many other kine.

Let us two, therefore go away, taking the kine with us. Let Trita go wherever he likes, without being in our company."

As they proceeded, they were benighted on the way. They then saw a wolf before them. Not far from that spot was a deep hole on the bank of the Sarasvati.

Trita, who was going before, seeing the wolf, rain in fear and fell into that hole.

That hole was deep and terrible and capable of striking terror to all creatures. Then Trita, O king, that best of ascetics, from within that hole, began to bewail. His two brothers heard his cries.

Knowing that he had fallen into a pit, his brothers Ekata and Dvita, actuated by fear of the wolf as also by temptation, went on, leaving behind their brother.

Thus left behind by his two brothers who were tempted to appropriate those animals, the great ascetic. Trita, O king, while within that lonely pit covered with dust.

Herbs and creepers, thought himself sunk, O best of the Bharatas, into hell like a sinful person.

He was afraid of dying became he had not earned the merit of drinking Soma juice. Greatly wise as he was he began to think with the help of his intelligence as to how he could succeed in drinking Soma cven there.

While thinking thus the great ascetic, standing in that pit, beheld a creeper hanging down into it.

Although the pit was dry still the sage perceived the existence of water and of sacrificial fires there. Imagining himself the sacrificial priest.

The great ascetic took the creeper for the Soma plant. He then mentally uttered the Rich's, the Yayushes and the Samans.

The pebbles lying there were converted into grains of sugar (in imagination) by Trita. He, then, O king, (mentally) performed his ablutions. He took the water for the clarified butter.

He distributed amongst the celestials their respective shares (of those sacrificial offerings). Having next mentally drunk Soma, he began to inake a great noise. Those sounds, O king, first uttered by the sacrificing Rishi, entered into heaven and Trita performed that sacrifice after the manner laid down by Brahmavadins.

During the celebration of that sacrifice of the great Trita, the entire region of the celestials was agitated. None knew, however, the cause. Brihaspati heard that loud noise.

The priest of the celestials said to them:"Trita is performing a sacrifice. We must go there, you celestials.

He is gifted with great ascetic merit if willing, he is capable of creating other celestials."

Hearing those words of Brihaspati, all the gods, in a body, repaired where the sacrifice of Trita was going on.

Having proceeded to that spot, the gods beheld the great ascetic engaged in the performance of his sacrifice.

Beholding that great beautiful ascetic the gods addressed him, saying-"We have come for our shares (in your offerings).

The Rishi said to them-"Behold me, you denizens of heaven, fallen into this terrible pit almost deprived of my senses.

Then Trita, O monarch, duly allotted to them their shares with proper mantras. The gods took them and were greatly delighted. Having duly received their respective shares, the denizens of heaven, pleased with him, granted him the boons he wanted.

The boon, however, that he prayed for was that the gods should relieve him from his painful condition.

He also said-"Let him that bathes in this well, achieve the end that is attained by persons that have drunk Soma.'

Thereat, O king, the Sarasvati. with her waves, appeared within that well. Raised above by her, Trita came up and worshipped the celestials.

The gods then said to him-"By it as you wish." All of them then, O king, returned to their respective habitations and Trita, filled with joy, proceeded to his owe abode.

Meeting with those two Rishi, viz., his brothers, he became enraged with them. Endued with ascetic merit, he spoke harshly to them and cursed them, saying.

Since, actuated by covetousness, you ran away, leaving me, therefore, you shall become dreadful wolves with sharp teeth and range the forest cursed by me on account of that sinful act of yours.

Your offspring will also consist of leopards and bears and apes!' After Trita had said these words, O monarch, his two brothers were soon transformed into tigers on account of the curse of that truthful sage.

The highly powerful Baladeva touched the waters of Udapana. And he gave away various kinds of wealth there and worshipped many Brahmanas.

Beholding Upadana and and praising it repeatedly, Baladeva next proceeded to Vinashana which also was on the Sarasvati.