Critical Edition
वैशंपायन उवाच तस्मान्नदीगतं चापि उदपानं यशस्विनः त्रितस्य च महाराज जगामाथ हलायुधः
M. N. Dutt: 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.
तत्र दत्त्वा बहु द्रव्यं पूजयित्वा तथा द्विजान् उपस्पृश्य च तत्रैव प्रहृष्टो मुसलायुधः
M. N. Dutt: Having distributed profuse wealth and worshipped the Brahmanas, the hero, having the plough for his weapon, bathed there and was filled with joy.
तत्र धर्मपरो ह्यासीत्त्रितः स सुमहातपाः कूपे च वसता तेन सोमः पीतो महात्मना
M. N. Dutt: The great and pious ascetic Trita had lived there. While in a hole that great man had drunk the Soma juice.
तत्र चैनं समुत्सृज्य भ्रातरौ जग्मतुर्गृहान् ततस्तौ वै शशापाथ त्रितो ब्राह्मणसत्तमः
M. N. Dutt: His two brothers, dashing him down into a pit, had returned home. That foremost of Brahmanas, viz., Trita, had thereupon cursed them both."
जनमेजय उवाच उदपानं कथं ब्रह्मन्कथं च सुमहातपाः पतितः किं च संत्यक्तो भ्रातृभ्यां द्विजसत्तमः
M. N. Dutt: 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?
कूपे कथं च हित्वैनं भ्रातरौ जग्मतुर्गृहान् एतदाचक्ष्व मे ब्रह्मन्यदि श्राव्यं हि मन्यसे
M. N. Dutt: 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.
Supplementary Passages:
9.35.6 After 6b, K3 repeats 4cd, while B D (except D2.11; D3 marg.) ins.: *220 कथं च याजयामास पपौ सोमं च वै कथम्
वैशंपायन उवाच आसन्पूर्वयुगे राजन्मुनयो भ्रातरस्त्रयः एकतश्च द्वितश्चैव त्रितश्चादित्यसंनिभाः
M. N. Dutt: 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.
सर्वे प्रजापतिसमाः प्रजावन्तस्तथैव च ब्रह्मलोकजितः सर्वे तपसा ब्रह्मवादिनः
M. N. Dutt: 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.
तेषां तु तपसा प्रीतो नियमेन दमेन च अभवद्गौतमो नित्यं पिता धर्मरतः सदा
AI Translation: But Gautama, always devoted to righteousness, was pleased with their asceticism, self-control and discipline.
स तु दीर्घेण कालेन तेषां प्रीतिमवाप्य च जगाम भगवान्स्थानमनुरूपमिवात्मनः
AI Translation: After a long time, he obtained their affection and the Blessed One went to a place befitting himself.
राजानस्तस्य ये पूर्वे याज्या ह्यासन्महात्मनः ते सर्वे स्वर्गते तस्मिंस्तस्य पुत्रानपूजयन्
AI Translation: The kings who were his priests in the past, the great-souled ones, all of them worshipped his sons when he went to heaven.
तेषां तु कर्मणा राजंस्तथैवाध्ययनेन च त्रितः स श्रेष्ठतां प्राप यथैवास्य पिता तथा
AI Translation: By their deeds and by their study, O king, Tritha attained the same preeminence as his father.
तं स्म सर्वे महाभागा मुनयः पुण्यलक्षणाः अपूजयन्महाभागं तथा विद्वत्तयैव तु
M. N. Dutt: Then all the great and pious ascetics began to worship Trita as they had worshipped his father Gautama before him.
कदाचिद्धि ततो राजन्भ्रातरावेकतद्वितौ यज्ञार्थं चक्रतुश्चित्तं धनार्थं च विशेषतः
M. N. Dutt: Once upon a time, the two brothers Etaka and Dvita thought of celebrating a sacrifice and became anxious for wealth.
तयोश्चिन्ता समभवत्त्रितं गृह्य परंतप याज्यान्सर्वानुपादाय प्रतिगृह्य पशूंस्ततः
AI Translation: And they both thought, O scorcher of foes, having taken the three, having taken all the sacrificial fees, and having accepted the animals,
सोमं पास्यामहे हृष्टाः प्राप्य यज्ञं महाफलम् चक्रुश्चैव महाराज भ्रातरस्त्रय एव ह
AI Translation: We shall joyfully drink Soma, having attained this sacrifice of great fruit." And the three brothers did so, O great king.
Supplementary Passages:
9.35.16 After 16, K4 D2 ins.: *221 तथा ते समयं कृत्वा गृहान्निष्क्रम्य पार्थिव
तथा तु ते परिक्रम्य याज्यान्सर्वान्पशून्प्रति याजयित्वा ततो याज्याँल्लब्ध्वा च सुबहून्पशून्
AI Translation: Having thus gone around and offered oblations to all the animals, having performed the sacrifice and obtained many animals,
याज्येन कर्मणा तेन प्रतिगृह्य विधानतः प्राचीं दिशं महात्मान आजग्मुस्ते महर्षयः
AI Translation: Having accepted the sacrificial rite performed by the preceptor in accordance with the prescribed procedure, those great sages went to the eastern direction.
त्रितस्तेषां महाराज पुरस्ताद्याति हृष्टवत् एकतश्च द्वितश्चैव पृष्ठतः कालयन्पशून्
M. N. Dutt: Trita, O king, was cheerfully walking before them. Ekata and Dvita were in his rear, conducting the animals.
तयोश्चिन्ता समभवद्दृष्ट्वा पशुगणं महत् कथं न स्युरिमा गाव आवाभ्यां वै विना त्रितम्
M. N. Dutt: 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.
तावन्योन्यं समाभाष्य एकतश्च द्वितश्च ह यदूचतुर्मिथः पापौ तन्निबोध जनेश्वर
M. N. Dutt: Hear, O king, what those two sinful wretches, viz., Ekata and Dvita, said to each other.
त्रितो यज्ञेषु कुशलस्त्रितो वेदेषु निष्ठितः अन्यास्त्रितो बहुतरा गावः समुपलप्स्यते
M. N. Dutt: They said-"Trita is a clever priest. Trita is well read in the Vedas. Trita is capable of earning many other kine.
तदावां सहितौ भूत्वा गाः प्रकाल्य व्रजावहे त्रितोऽपि गच्छतां काममावाभ्यां वै विनाकृतः
M. N. Dutt: Let us two, therefore go away, taking the kine with us. Let Trita go wherever he likes, without being in our company."
तेषामागच्छतां रात्रौ पथिस्थाने वृकोऽभवत् तथा कूपोऽविदूरेऽभूत्सरस्वत्यास्तटे महान्
M. N. Dutt: 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.
अथ त्रितो वृकं दृष्ट्वा पथि तिष्ठन्तमग्रतः तद्भयादपसर्पन्वै तस्मिन्कूपे पपात ह अगाधे सुमहाघोरे सर्वभूतभयंकरे
M. N. Dutt: Trita, who was going before, seeing the wolf, rain in fear and fell into that hole.
त्रितस्ततो महाभागः कूपस्थो मुनिसत्तमः आर्तनादं ततश्चक्रे तौ तु शुश्रुवतुर्मुनी
AI Translation: Then the highly esteemed sage Tritasta, the best of sages, who was in the well, made a cry of distress. The sages heard it.
तं ज्ञात्वा पतितं कूपे भ्रातरावेकतद्वितौ वृकत्रासाच्च लोभाच्च समुत्सृज्य प्रजग्मतुः
M. N. Dutt: 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.
भ्रातृभ्यां पशुलुब्धाभ्यामुत्सृष्टः स महातपाः उदपाने महाराज निर्जले पांसुसंवृते
M. N. Dutt: 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.
त्रित आत्मानमालक्ष्य कूपे वीरुत्तृणावृते निमग्नं भरतश्रेष्ठ पापकृन्नरके यथा
AI Translation: Having seen himself in a well covered with grass and creepers, O best of the Bharatas, he was submerged like a sinner in hell.
बुद्ध्या ह्यगणयत्प्राज्ञो मृत्योर्भीतो ह्यसोमपः सोमः कथं नु पातव्य इहस्थेन मया भवेत्
AI Translation: The wise one, fearing death, did not drink Soma, not considering it with his intellect. How can Soma be drunk by me who am here?
स एवमनुसंचिन्त्य तस्मिन्कूपे महातपाः ददर्श वीरुधं तत्र लम्बमानां यदृच्छया
AI Translation: Having thus reflected, the great ascetic saw a creeper hanging there by chance.
पांसुग्रस्ते ततः कूपे विचिन्त्य सलिलं मुनिः अग्नीन्संकल्पयामास होत्रे चात्मानमेव च
M. N. Dutt: Although the pit was dry still the sage perceived the existence of water and of sacrificial fires there. Imagining himself the sacrificial priest.
ततस्तां वीरुधं सोमं संकल्प्य सुमहातपाः ऋचो यजूंषि सामानि मनसा चिन्तयन्मुनिः ग्रावाणः शर्कराः कृत्वा प्रचक्रेऽभिषवं नृप
M. N. Dutt: The great ascetic took the creeper for the Soma plant. He then mentally uttered the Rich's, the Yayushes and the Samans.
आज्यं च सलिलं चक्रे भागांश्च त्रिदिवौकसाम् सोमस्याभिषवं कृत्वा चकार तुमुलं ध्वनिम्
AI Translation: He made the oblation of ghee and water and the shares of the gods of heaven. Having performed the consecration of Soma, he made a loud noise.
स चाविशद्दिवं राजन्स्वरः शैक्षस्त्रितस्य वै समवाप च तं यज्ञं यथोक्तं ब्रह्मवादिभिः
M. N. Dutt: 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.
वर्तमाने तथा यज्ञे त्रितस्य सुमहात्मनः आविग्नं त्रिदिवं सर्वं कारणं च न बुध्यते
M. N. Dutt: 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.
ततः सुतुमुलं शब्दं शुश्रावाथ बृहस्पतिः श्रुत्वा चैवाब्रवीद्देवान्सर्वान्देवपुरोहितः
AI Translation: Then Brihaspati heard the great uproar. Having heard it, the priest of the gods said to all the gods:
त्रितस्य वर्तते यज्ञस्तत्र गच्छामहे सुराः स हि क्रुद्धः सृजेदन्यान्देवानपि महातपाः
AI Translation: The sacrifice of Trita is going on there. Let us go there, O gods. For he, being angry, may create other gods, even the great ascetics.
तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य सहिताः सर्वदेवताः प्रययुस्तत्र यत्रासौ त्रितयज्ञः प्रवर्तते
AI Translation: Hearing those words, all the gods together went to where that Tritiyajña was being performed.
ते तत्र गत्वा विबुधास्तं कूपं यत्र स त्रितः ददृशुस्तं महात्मानं दीक्षितं यज्ञकर्मसु
AI Translation: Having gone there, the gods, to that well where that Tritha was, saw that great-souled one, initiated in the rites of sacrifice.
दृष्ट्वा चैनं महात्मानं श्रिया परमया युतम् ऊचुश्चाथ महाभागं प्राप्ता भागार्थिनो वयम्
AI Translation: Seeing him, the great-souled one, endowed with supreme glory, And then they said to the greatly fortunate one, "We have come seeking a share."
अथाब्रवीदृषिर्देवान्पश्यध्वं मां दिवौकसः अस्मिन्प्रतिभये कूपे निमग्नं नष्टचेतसम्
AI Translation: Then the sage said to the gods, "Look at me, O dwellers of heaven, Immersed in this terrifying well, my mind lost.
ततस्त्रितो महाराज भागांस्तेषां यथाविधि मन्त्रयुक्तान्समददात्ते च प्रीतास्तदाभवन्
AI Translation: Then, O great king, he gave them their shares according to the proper procedure, along with the mantras, and they were pleased at that time.
ततो यथाविधि प्राप्तान्भागान्प्राप्य दिवौकसः प्रीतात्मानो ददुस्तस्मै वरान्यान्मनसेच्छति
M. N. Dutt: The boon, however, that he prayed for was that the gods should relieve him from his painful condition.
स तु वव्रे वरं देवांस्त्रातुमर्हथ मामितः यश्चेहोपस्पृशेत्कूपे स सोमपगतिं लभेत्
M. N. Dutt: He also said-"Let him that bathes in this well, achieve the end that is attained by persons that have drunk Soma.'
तत्र चोर्मिमती राजन्नुत्पपात सरस्वती तयोत्क्षिप्तस्त्रितस्तस्थौ पूजयंस्त्रिदिवौकसः
M. N. Dutt: Thereat, O king, the Sarasvati. with her waves, appeared within that well. Raised above by her, Trita came up and worshipped the celestials.
Supplementary Passages:
9.35.46 After 46b, D4 ins.: *222 आजगाम द्रुतं प्रीता तस्मिन्कूपे सरस्वती
तथेति चोक्त्वा विबुधा जग्मू राजन्यथागतम् त्रितश्चाप्यगमत्प्रीतः स्वमेव निलयं तदा
M. N. Dutt: 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.
क्रुद्धः स तु समासाद्य तावृषी भ्रातरौ तदा उवाच परुषं वाक्यं शशाप च महातपाः
M. N. Dutt: 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.
पशुलुब्धौ युवां यस्मान्मामुत्सृज्य प्रधावितौ तस्माद्रूपेण तेषां वै दंष्ट्रिणामभितश्चरौ
AI Translation: Since you two, being greedy for the sacrificial animal, have run away from me, therefore, you two will wander about in the form of those tusked animals.
भवितारौ मया शप्तौ पापेनानेन कर्मणा प्रसवश्चैव युवयोर्गोलाङ्गूलर्क्षवानराः
AI Translation: "By this sinful act, you two will be born as a goat, a sheep, a bear, and a monkey."
इत्युक्ते तु तदा तेन क्षणादेव विशां पते तथाभूतावदृश्येतां वचनात्सत्यवादिनः
M. N. Dutt: 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.
तत्राप्यमितविक्रान्तः स्पृष्ट्वा तोयं हलायुधः दत्त्वा च विविधान्दायान्पूजयित्वा च वै द्विजान्
M. N. Dutt: The highly powerful Baladeva touched the waters of Udapana. And he gave away various kinds of wealth there and worshipped many Brahmanas.
उदपानं च तं दृष्ट्वा प्रशस्य च पुनः पुनः नदीगतमदीनात्मा प्राप्तो विनशनं तदा
AI Translation: Seeing the well, and praising it again and again, the fearless one, who had gone to the river, then met with destruction.