Virāṭa
Virāṭa was the king of Matsya in the Dvāpara Yuga. He was a powerful and respected ruler. His kingdom gave the Pāṇḍavas shelter for the last year of their hidden exile, called ajñātavāsa (the year of living unknown). He did not know who they were. He is also remembered as the father-in-law of Abhimanyu, through his daughter Uttarā.
Kingdom and family
Virāṭa ruled Matsya from his capital Virāṭanagara, also known as Upaplavya. His kingdom lay near the Yamunā and was one of the middle kingdoms of Bhārata. He was generous and able. He was known for his hospitality and for how he valued talent.
His wife was Sudeṣṇā. His sons included Uttara, Śveta and Śaṅkha. Uttara rode out in the Uttara Gograhāṇa (the cattle raid) with Bṛhannaḷā as his charioteer. Śveta and Śaṅkha fell at Kurukṣetra. His daughter Uttarā became the wife of Abhimanyu and the mother of Parīkṣit. Parīkṣit was the last heir of the Kuru line, and he heard the Bhāgavata from Śuka Maharṣi.
At the Rājasūya
Nakula went on a western digvijaya (conquest of the quarters) for Yudhiṣṭhira. At Yudhiṣṭhira’s Rājasūya in Indraprastha, Virāṭa was present in the great assembly. He is listed among the kings who came bringing tribute and goodwill. The assembly held kings from every direction, whether hostile, neutral or friendly. The Mahābhārata describes this in the Sabhā Parva.
The Virāṭa Parva: host of the hidden year
Virāṭa’s main part in the Mahābhārata is in the Virāṭa Parva, the full year that the Pāṇḍavas spent unknown at his court. They served him in disguise:
- Yudhiṣṭhira was Kaṅka Bhaṭṭa, the king’s companion at dice.
- Bhīma was Vallava, the cook.
- Arjuna was Bṛhannaḷā, a eunuch and dance teacher.
- Nakula was Granthika, keeper of the horses.
- Sahadeva was Tantipāla, keeper of the cattle.
- Draupadī was Sairandhrī, a maid.
This is told in Virāṭa Parva, Chapters 7–12.
Kīcaka
Virāṭa was a strong ruler. His army rested largely on Kīcaka, his commander-in-chief and the brother of his queen Sudeṣṇā. Kīcaka led the famous corps of 105 brothers, the Upakīcakas. Kīcaka was killed by the Gandharvas, who were Bhīma in disguise. After that, Virāṭa’s military strength was much weaker, yet the kingdom stayed steady (Virāṭa Parva, Chapters 14–24).
The cattle raids
The Kauravas and the Trigartas raided Matsya’s cattle at the same time. Virāṭa himself led the southern battle against the Trigarta army of Suśarman. He fought bravely but Suśarman captured him. The disguised Bhīma and the other Pāṇḍavas rescued him. They also captured Suśarman and brought him to Virāṭa. On Yudhiṣṭhira’s advice, Virāṭa freed Suśarman with a warning (Virāṭa Parva, Chapters 27–34).
The blow to Yudhiṣṭhira
Virāṭa came back from the south as the winner. He learned that his son Uttara had gone to fight the great Kaurava army with Bṛhannaḷā as his charioteer. He was afraid for his son. Kaṅka (Yudhiṣṭhira) calmed him and said he trusted Bṛhannaḷā fully. Virāṭa felt that his son’s courage had been insulted. He struck Yudhiṣṭhira on the nose with a dice piece and drew blood. When Uttara returned, he rebuked his father for it (Virāṭa Parva, Chapter 68).
The Pāṇḍavas are revealed
On the third day the Pāṇḍavas were made known. Virāṭa was full of joy and sorrow together. He bowed down before Yudhiṣṭhira. He offered the Pāṇḍavas his whole kingdom, his treasury and his forces. He embraced each of the five brothers with warm love.
He offered his daughter Uttarā to Arjuna. Arjuna refused, because Uttarā had been his student. Virāṭa then gladly agreed that Uttarā should marry Arjuna’s son Abhimanyu (Virāṭa Parva, Chapters 70–71).
The wedding of Abhimanyu and Uttarā
The wedding was held at Upaplavya with great splendour. Kṛṣṇa, Balarāma, Drupada, Dhṛṣṭadyumna and many other kings and friends came. Virāṭa gave Abhimanyu rich gifts: a thousand horses, two hundred elephants, great wealth and gold. He performed homa (fire offerings), honoured the brāhmaṇas, and offered all the resources of his kingdom (Virāṭa Parva, Chapter 72). Later Virāṭa stood among the firm allies of the Pāṇḍavas at Kurukṣetra.
The Strī Parva: fallen on the battlefield
In Chapter 20 of the Strī Parva, Gāndhārī looks over the battlefield. She sees Virāṭa, the king of Matsya, lying on the ground. Droṇa’s weapons and arrows have cut his body, and blood runs from his wounds. His wives gather round him, weeping and beating their breasts. Vultures, crows and jackals circle and tear at him. The women are tired and grief-struck in the summer heat, and they struggle in vain to drive the birds away.
Gāndhārī also names Uttara, Virāṭa’s son, among the young warriors who have fallen:
“Uttara, Abhimanyu, the Kāmboja king, Sudakṣiṇa, Lakṣmaṇa — and other young warriors — see them lying fallen in the midst of the battlefield.”
Both father and son died in this war. Virāṭa fell to Droṇa. Uttara fell to Śalya on the very first day.
The Āśramavāsika Parva: reunion at the Gaṅgā
At the Gaṅgā, Vyāsa called up the whole host of the fallen warriors. Virāṭa rose from the sacred waters with his sons. He was young again and free of enmity. He stayed for one night of reunion and then returned to his loka (world) (Āśramavāsika Parva, Chapter 32).
The Svargārohaṇa Parva: return to the Viśvedevas
When Yudhiṣṭhira first reached svarga (heaven), he longed to see certain warriors and could not find them at once. He asked Nārada where the great kings had gone, including Virāṭa, Drupada and Dhṛṣṭaketu. The answer comes in the last chapter of the Mahābhārata. When his earthly course was over, King Virāṭa was taken back into the Viśvedevas. Drupada, Dhṛṣṭaketu and the Yādava and allied elders were with him. So the generous host of the hidden year, who gave his kingdom and his sons to the cause of dharma, returned to the high company of the Viśvedevas.
Sources
- Mahābhārata, Sabhā Parva, Chapter 34
- Mahābhārata, Virāṭa Parva, Chapters 1–72
- Mahābhārata, Strī Parva, Chapter 20
- Mahābhārata, Āśramavāsika Parva, Chapter 32
- Mahābhārata, Svargārohaṇa Parva, Chapters 1, 5