Tribes in Ancient India c13.3

c13.3

Perhaps the earliest mention of the Śālvas as a tribe is found in the Gopatha Brāhmaṇa (I, 2, 9), where they appear in connection with the Matsyas. The Matsyas were inhabitants of the region identical with the kingdom of King Virāṭa of the Mahābhārata, and the Matsya capital has been identified with Virāṭ in the Jaipur State; and the Śālvas probably occupied the territory now occupied by the native state of Alwar.¹ According to the Mahābhārata,² the Śālva country was situated near Kurukṣetra and was the kingdom of the father of Satyavān, husband of Sāvitrī.³ The capital of the Śālvas seems to have been Śālvapura,⁴ which is also called Saubhaganagara. King Śālva's kingdom or territory was also known as Mārttikāvata or Mṛttikāvatī.⁵ Śālva is said to have attacked Dvārāvatī, but to have been killed by Kṛṣṇa.⁶