Virāṭanagara was the capital city of the Matsya kingdom, which King Virāṭa ruled. It was the place of the Pāṇḍavas’ thirteenth year of exile, the ajñātavāsa (the year of living unknown). In that year all five brothers and Draupadī lived in disguise in the service of the Matsya royal court.

Location and description

Virāṭanagara was the main city of the Matsya kingdom, a rich and well-ordered kingdom of the Dvāpara Yuga. The Virāṭa Parva calls the city manojña (beautiful, pleasing to the mind). It was large enough to hold a full royal court, large kitchens, stables, divisions for keeping cattle, an antaḥpura (the inner women’s quarters), a nāṭyaśālā (hall for dance and performance) and a sabhā (assembly hall).

The kingdom bordered the region of the Yamunā river. It lay between the Daśārṇa country to the north and Pāñcāla to the south (Mahābhārata, Virāṭa Parva, Chapter 5).

The śamī tree

On the edge of Virāṭanagara, near a śmaśāna (cremation ground) and away from the main road, stood a great śamī tree. The Pāṇḍavas hid their divine weapons in it. These were Gāṇḍīva, and the bows of Yudhishṭhira, Bhīma, Nakula and Sahadeva, together with their swords, quivers and other arms.

Nakula climbed the tree and tied the weapons in its branches with ropes, in places where the rain would not reach them. A human corpse was tied nearby, so that people would keep away from the tree, thinking it held a dead body. The Pāṇḍavas told the local cowherds that the bundle was the body of their old mother, who was 180 years old. The śamī tree guarded the Pāṇḍavas’ power in silence through the whole year (Mahābhārata, Virāṭa Parva, Chapter 5).

Royal places of the city

The city had all the royal institutions.

The sabhā (royal assembly hall), where Virāṭa held court with Kaṅka (Yudhishṭhira) as his companion.
The kitchen (sūda), where Vallava (Bhīma) served as master cook.
The stables (aśvaśālā), where Granthika (Nakula) looked after the royal horses.
The cattle pens, where Tantipāla (Sahadeva) tended the royal cattle.
The antaḥpura (inner palace), where Bṛhannaḷā (Arjuna) taught dance and music to Princess Uttarā, and where Sairandhrī (Draupadī) served Queen Sudeshṇā.
The nāṭyaśālā (dance hall), where Bhīma killed Kīcaka by night.

Virāṭa’s court and position

Virāṭa was a powerful king with a large court and army. His city was full of people and activity, so six more servants did not draw notice. His armies were still large, though weaker after the death of Kīcaka. His kingdom lay near Pāñcāla, the homeland of Draupadī, and could be reached by friendly kingdoms.

When the Pāṇḍavas made themselves known at the end of the year, Virāṭa became a firm ally. He held the great marriage assembly at Upaplavya, where the Pāṇḍava allies were brought together.

Upaplavya

The Virāṭa Parva names Upaplavya as another city of the Matsya kingdom, described as “another city near Virāṭanagara”. When the period of hiding was complete, the Pāṇḍavas moved to Upaplavya. The marriage of Abhimanyu and Uttarā was held there, and the allies gathered there before the events of the Udyoga Parva (Mahābhārata, Virāṭa Parva, Chapter 72).

Sources

Mahābhārata, Virāṭa Parva, Chapter 5
Mahābhārata, Virāṭa Parva, Chapter 72