the Brahmanas, the hero having the plough for
his weapon bathed there and became filled with joy. Devoted to
righteousness, the great ascetic Trita had lived there. While in a hole,
that high-souled one had drunk the Soma juice. His two brothers, dashing
him down into that pit, had returned to their home. That foremost of
Brahmanas, 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, return home? How did Trita perform his
sacrifice and how did he drink Soma? Tell me all this, O Brahmana, if
thou thinkest that I may listen to it without impropriety!"

Vaishampayana continued, "In a former Yuga, O king, there were three
brothers that were ascetics. They were called Ekata, Dwita, and Trita,
and all three were endued with effulgence like that of the sun. They were
like Lords of the creation and were blessed with children. Utterers of
Brahma, they had by their penances, acquired the privilege of attaining
to the regions of Brahman (after death). With their penances, vows, and
self-restraint, their sire Gautama, who was ever devoted to virtue,
became highly and always pleased with them. Having obtained great joy in
consequence of his sons, the adorable Gautama, after passing a long life
here, went at last to the region (in the other world) that was fit for
him. Those kings, however, O monarch, that had been the Yajamanas of
Gautama, continued to worship Gautama's sons after the sire had proceeded
to heaven. Amongst them, however, Trita, by his acts and study (of the
Vedas), O king, became the foremost, even like his sire Gautama. Then all
the highly blessed ascetics, characterised by righteousness, began to
worship Trita as they had worshipped his sire Gautama before him. Once
upon a time, the two brothers Ekata and Dwita thought of performing a
sacrifice and became anxious for wealth. The plan they formed, O scorcher
of foes, was to take Trita with them, and calling upon all their
Yajamanas 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 monarch, did as settled. Calling upon all
their Yajamanas for (obtaining) animals, and assisting them in their
sacrifices and receiving a large number of animals