Uttara, Son of Virāṭa

Uttara was the young prince of Matsya, a son of King Virāṭa. He was the brother of Śaṅkha and of Uttarā, who became the wife of Abhimanyu. He was brave but untried. He became famous during the Pāṇḍavas’ year in hiding at his father’s court, and he fell early in the war at Kurukṣetra. In the last book of the Mahābhārata, the Svargārohaṇa Parva, he is named among the great ones who returned to the Viśvedevas.

Prince of Matsya

Uttara was the son of Virāṭa, the king of Matsya, at whose court the Pāṇḍavas spent their thirteenth year of exile in disguise. His sister Uttarā was given in marriage to Abhimanyu, the son of Arjuna. This joined the house of Matsya to the Pāṇḍava line. Through that marriage, Parīkṣit later carried on the royal line of the Kurus. His brother was Śaṅkha.

His sister Uttarā has a name almost the same as his, so the two should be kept apart.

Fall at Kurukṣetra and return to the Viśvedevas

Uttara stood among the Matsya warriors who fought beside the Pāṇḍavas. He was killed in the early days of the great battle. He gave his life for dharma and reached the higher worlds.

In the Svargārohaṇa Parva, Sauti names him among the great ones who entered the Viśvedevas when their prārabdha-karma (the karma that had begun to bear fruit) was used up. They were taken back into that class of devas. His brother Śaṅkha and his father Virāṭa are named with him (Svargārohaṇa Parva, Chapter 5).

Sources

• Mahābhārata, Svargārohaṇa Parva, Chapter 5