Trita in the Well (Udapāna-kathā) — Balarāma’s Tīrtha Observances
गोखरोष्ट प्रयुक्तैश्व यानैश्व बहुभिवत: । राजन्! महाबली बलदेवजीने सेवकोंको ऐसी आज्ञा देकर उस समय कुरुक्षेत्रमें ही तीर्थयात्रा आरम्भ कर दी। भरतश्रेष्ठ! वे सरस्वतीके स्रोतती ओर चलकर उसके दोनों तटोंपर गये। उनके साथ ऋत्विज, सुहृद, अन्यान्य श्रेष्ठ ब्राह्मण, रथ, हाथी, घोड़े और सेवक भी थे। बैल, गदहा और ऊँटोंसे जुते हुए बहुसंख्यक रथोंसे बलरामजी घिरे हुए थे || २०-- २२३ || श्रान्तानां क्लान्तवपुषां शिशूनां विपुलायुषाम्
go-kharauṣṭra-prayuktaiś ca yānaiś ca bahubhir vṛtaḥ | rājann mahābalī baladevājīna sevakān evam ājñāpya tadā kurukṣetre eva tīrtha-yātrām ārabdhavān | bharataśreṣṭha sa sarasvatyāḥ srotasī prati gatvā tayor ubhayataṭeṣu jagāma | tasya saha ṛtvijaḥ suhṛdaḥ anye ca śreṣṭhā brāhmaṇā rathā hastinaḥ aśvāḥ sevakāś ca āsan | vṛṣabha-gardabha-uṣṭra-yuktaiḥ bahusaṅkhyaiḥ rathaiḥ balarāmo vṛta āsīt ||
Vaiśampāyana said: O King, the mighty Balarāma, surrounded by many vehicles drawn by oxen, donkeys, and camels, issued his orders to his attendants and, right there on the field of Kurukṣetra, began his pilgrimage. O best of the Bharatas, he proceeded toward the streams of the Sarasvatī and moved along both of her banks. With him went officiating priests (ṛtvij), friends, and other eminent brāhmaṇas, as well as chariots, elephants, horses, and servants. Encircled by a great number of carts yoked to oxen, donkeys, and camels, Balarāma advanced.
वैशम्पायन उवाच