Pṛthūdaka is one of the holiest tīrthas (sacred bathing places) in the Kurukshetra region, at the place where the Sarasvatī river flows in a specially blessed form. The Vāmana Mahā Purāṇa says it is as great as Naimisha and Pushkara in its power to free those who come. Bhagavān Vishṇu himself placed guardians over it. It is the place of Indra’s great śrāddha and of the abhisheka of Kārttikeya as commander of the armies of the devas. The Mahābhārata names it as a place on the Sarasvatī where Balarāma bathed and where several ṛshis are remembered.

Location and name

Pṛthūdaka lies inside the sacred land of Kurukshetra. This is the Dharmakshetra that King Kuru set up. He ploughed the field with the bull of Rudra and the buffalo of Yama and offered his own limbs. The name Pṛthūdaka comes from the ṛshi Pṛthu. He did his cleansing rites here (udaka means water, and the rite is a water rite) and made the place holy with his own tapas (austerity). The Sarasvatī flows through or near this tīrtha in a specially holy form. For this reason it is a natural place for water rites, including śrāddha and offerings to the ancestors. (Vāmana Mahā Purāṇa, Chapter 23)

Holiness of Pṛthūdaka

The Vāmana Purāṇa counts Pṛthūdaka among the foremost tīrthas of Bhāratavarsha. The ṛshi Cyavana went down to Pātāla in the time of Prahlāda. There he named Pṛthūdaka beside Naimisha, Pushkara and Cakratīrtha as a highest tīrtha. A bath at Pṛthūdaka, above all on holy days, gives the puṇya (merit) of a thousand aśvamedhas (horse yajñas). It also lets the bather reach the realms of the pitṛs (ancestors) in complete purity. (Vāmana Mahā Purāṇa, Chapter 7)

The guardians appointed by Vishṇu

Bhagavān Vishṇu blessed King Kuru and so set up Kurukshetra as Dharmakshetra. After that he appointed three divine guardians to watch over Pṛthūdaka tīrtha and keep it holy.

Sukeśī: the rākshasa king who had received teachings on dharma from the ṛshis (Chapters 11–13). Though born a rākshasa, he was honoured with the care of this most holy place.
Chandra-yaksha: a yaksha shining like the moon.
Vāsuki: the great nāga king, who guards the place from below the earth.

(Vāmana Mahā Purāṇa, Chapter 23)

Indra’s śrāddha

Indra himself did a great śrāddha at Pṛthūdaka on the Mṛgaśirā amāvāsyā (the new moon that falls under the Mṛgaśirā nakshatra). The pitṛs were pleased with this offering and gave Indra a vara (a boon). From this came the giving of Menā to Himavān. This led to the birth of Pārvatī, and so it links this tīrtha of Kurukshetra to the whole account of Śiva’s marriage and the birth of Kārttikeya. (Vāmana Mahā Purāṇa, Chapter 24)

The abhisheka of Kārttikeya

The royal abhisheka of Kārttikeya as Senāpati (commander of the armies of the devas) took place at Pṛthūdaka tīrtha. Vishṇu spoke the svastivācana (the blessing for well-being) at this rite. All the devas came, and each gave bands of gaṇas (attendants) to serve Kārttikeya. (Vāmana Mahā Purāṇa, Chapter 31)

Pṛthūdaka in the Saro Māhātmya circuit

Chapter 18 of the Saro Māhātmya of the Vāmana Mahā Purāṇa lists Pṛthūdaka among the tīrthas on the bank of the Sarasvatī. It stands beside these others.

The Auśanasa tīrtha, where Śukrācārya became a graha (planet).
The Viśvāmitra tīrtha, where Viśvāmitra reached the rank of brahmarshi.
The Brahmayoni tīrtha.

This places Pṛthūdaka among the main tīrthas of the whole Kurukshetra pilgrimage. (Vāmana Mahā Purāṇa, Saro Māhātmya, Chapter 18)

Pṛthodaka in the Śalya Parva

The Śalya Parva of the Mahābhārata names the tīrtha Pṛthodaka. It is one of the important tīrthas on the pilgrimage along the Sarasvatī. It is linked with a group of people who passed from birth as kshatriyas to the rank of brahmarshi through tapas.

The ṛshi Rushaṅku had his āśrama (hermitage) here and reached the highest state (paramapada) at this place.
The tīrtha is linked with Viśvāmitra’s recognition as a brahmarshi, the end of his long spiritual struggle.
It is linked with Sindhudvīpa and Devāpi, two others who became brāhmaṇas through long tapas.
It is linked with Ārjisheṇa.

Balarāma bathed here and gave great dāna (gifts) to the brāhmaṇas gathered at the place.

Sources

Vāmana Mahā Purāṇa, Chapters 7, 23, 24 and 31
Vāmana Mahā Purāṇa, Saro Māhātmya, Chapter 18
Mahābhārata, Śalya Parva, Chapter 41