Viśasana Pura (also written Viśasanapura or Viśasana-nagara) was the capital city of Kali, the being of the present fallen age. It was the main stronghold of adharma during the Kali Yuga. Kali set out from this city to fight Dharma and Kṛtayuga, and he was defeated. Dharma then entered Viśasana Pura and burned it to ash with a fire of arrows. All of Kali’s family died in the fire, and Kali fled alone into hiding where none could see him.

Description

The Kalki Purāṇa describes Viśasana Pura as having every mark of Kali’s realm.

Foul air. The streets were full of crows (kākā), owls (guḍlagubbas, ulūka) and jackals (foxes). All these animals belong with death and unclean things.
Foul smell. The city stank with the durgandha (bad smell) of cow-flesh, which shows that the food-practices of dharma were turned upside down.
The house turned upside down. “Women governed the house” (strīsvāmikam gṛham). Women gave the orders in the household, instead of being honoured partners.
Vices. The city was the refuge of gambling, quarrels, discord and addiction (jūda, kalaha, vivāda, vyasana).
Fearsome look. The city itself was ghora-rūpa (of terrible form), and it frightened the world.

Kali’s chariot carried a banner with the sign of an owl, the ulūka-dhvaja. This marked the city as Kali’s seat (Kalki Purāṇa, Tṛtīyāṃśa, Chapters 5–6).

Kali leaves the city

Kali heard of Kalki’s advance and of the Digvijaya campaign. He set out from Viśasana Pura in anger, riding a chariot with the owl banner. His family and his chief helpers went with him, eager to meet the advance.

The two forces stood against each other. In Kali’s camp, his family and helpers fought the companions of Dharma. The pairs were these:

Lobha (Greed) against Prasāda
Krodha (Anger) against Abhaya
Bhaya (Fear) against Sukha
Niraya (Hell) against Muda
Ādhi (Mental anguish) against Yoga
Vyādhi (Disease) against Kshema
Jarā (Old age) against Smṛti

(Kalki Purāṇa, Tṛtīyāṃśa, Chapter 6)

The battle and the burning

Kali was defeated not by Kalki himself but in his meeting with Dharma and Kṛtayuga. He was beaten and bleeding, his chariot was destroyed, and his face was bhayaṃkara (terrible) in defeat. He fled back towards his city. He left his chariot and hid in the inner rooms of a house ruled by women.

When Dharma had driven off Kali and his forces, Dharma entered Viśasana Pura and burned it to ash with a fire of arrows (bāṇāgni). Kali’s whole family, his wives, children and companions, died in the fire. The city that had been the stronghold of adharma was reduced to nothing.

Kali himself lost everything: city, family, power and home. He fled alone, unseen, weeping and without refuge (Kalki Purāṇa, Tṛtīyāṃśa, Chapter 7).

Sources

Kalki Purāṇa, Tṛtīyāṃśa, Chapters 5–7