Historical Geography of Ancient India c8.134

c8.134

*Barantapura* (Barantpur).—It is situated about 15 miles from Madhipura in the district of Bhagalpur, containing the ruins of a fort which is said to have been the residence of king Virāṭa mentioned in the *Mahābhārata*. The Pāṇḍavas, as told in the *Mahābhārata*, accepted service in disguise under him. Kīcaka, the brother-in-law of king Virāṭa, wanted to take Draupadī, the wife of the Pāṇḍava brothers, and was killed by Bhīmasena at this village. It is said that a party of king Duryodhana took away many heads of cattle belonging to king Virāṭa. Arjuna fought with them and recovered the cattle. The *Uttaragoṛha* or the northern grazing field was situated in the vicinity of this village (*Bhagalpur* by Byrne, *Bengal District Gazetteers*, 1911, p. 162).