Suvīra, also called Saubīra, was the kingdom of King Śatruṃjaya. The Mahābhārata names it in the Śānti Parva, Āpaddharma Parva, Chapter 140. It is the kingdom for which the Kaṇikopadeśa was given. This is the teaching on statecraft in an emergency that is attributed to Kaṇika. Bharadvāja passed it on to Śatruṃjaya.

Suvīra in the narrative

Śatruṃjaya came to Bharadvāja at a time of severe crisis for his kingdom of Suvīra. Enemies were pressing on it from several directions. He asked for guidance to protect Suvīra, and Bharadvāja gave him the Kaṇikopadeśa.

The teaching speaks of daṇḍa (punishment, the use of force) as the highest upāya (means) in an emergency. It speaks of the use of spies and of the right time for decisive action. It also uses the examples of the heron, the lion, the wolf and the arrow. The Mahābhārata records that Śatruṃjaya followed this teaching and brought his kingdom back to stability.

Sources

Mahābhārata, Śānti Parva, Āpaddharma Parva, Chapter 140