Trita Kūpa (“Trita’s well”) is an ancient tīrtha (sacred place) on the banks of the Sarasvatī. It is also called Chamasodbheda, “emerging from the Chamasa”. It marks the place where the ṛshi Trita, pushed into a well by his brothers Ekata and Dvita, made a yajña (fire ritual) with whatever he could find and pleased the devas. The well became a lasting tīrtha. Bhagavān Balarāma bathed here during his pilgrimage along the Sarasvatī.

Trita’s yajña in the well

Trita made his yajña inside the well, with no proper tools at hand. He used what was available: plants in place of soma, thorns in place of darbha grass, and water in place of ghee (clarified butter). The devas accepted this offering.

Balarāma at the tīrtha

Balarāma bathed here and gave dāna (gifts) during his pilgrimage along the Sarasvatī. Here he heard the Trita Kūpa Upākhyāna, the account of Trita and the well.

Sources

Mahābhārata, Śalya Parva, Chapter 37