Babhru, Śaṃkha and the Sons and Brothers of Virāṭa

Virāṭa was the king of Matsya. Besides his well-known son Uttara, he had other sons and brothers who appear in the lists of Pāṇḍava allies in the Udyoga Parva. His son Babhru and his brothers Sūryadatta and Madirāksha are named among the Pāṇḍava commanders gathered at Upaplavya before the war at Kurukshetra.

The allies named in Chapter 57

Chapter 57 of the Udyoga Parva lists the Pāṇḍava forces gathered at Upaplavya. The Matsya group is led by Virāṭa. In it these are named:

  • Babhru: a son of Virāṭa, in addition to Śaṃkha and Uttara. He is named as part of what the royal house of Matsya gave to the Pāṇḍava cause.
  • Śaṃkha: another son of Virāṭa, who appears in the lists of allies.
  • Sūryadatta and Madirāksha: brothers of Virāṭa, who joined the Pāṇḍava side.

These names show that the Matsya royal house sent several members across two generations. The king himself, his brothers and his sons all took the field.

The Pāṇḍavas had lived in Virāṭa’s kingdom. Abhimanyu had married Uttarā, the daughter of Virāṭa.

Sources

  • Mahābhārata, Udyoga Parva, Chapter 57