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.
वैशम्पायन उवाच आसन् पूर्वयुगे राजन् मुनयो भ्रातरस्त्रयः॥ एकतश्च द्वितश्चैव त्रितश्चादित्य संनिभाः।