Sauvira Kingdom

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It is mentioned in the epic Mahabharata that Jayadratha was the king of Sindhu, Sauvira and Sivi Kingdoms. Probably Sauvira and Sivi were two kingdoms close to the Sindhu kingdom and Jayadratha conquered them.

Jayadratha was an ally of Duryodhana and husband of Duryodhana's sister Duhsala. In another place we find Rani Kunti telling the story of Vidula who persuaded her son, who was the king of Sauvira but banished by the Sindhu king, to fight against the Sindhus and take back his kingdom from them.

The kingdom of Sauvira was also mentioned to be not very far away from Dwaraka and Anarta kingdoms.

According to some texts, Sauvira was south of Sindhu in the delta of the Indus river; while later historians (Al-Beruni) considered Sauvira to represent southwest Punjab, including Multan, Mithankot and adjacent areas at the region of the confluence of Indus river with other rivers of Punjab. Dr A H Dani, a noted archeologist and linguist of Pakistan, has suggested that the name of Seraiki language (widely spoken in southwest Punjab (Pakistan)) may be a derivative of Sauviraki (the language of Sauvira).

Sauvira is presumed to be derived from two words: Su (great or good) or Sau (one hundred) and Veer (brave or wise).