Salwa (also written as Śalva [Shalva]) is a kingdom grouped among the western kingdoms in theepicMahabharata. It was close toMadra kingdom as both are mentioned together in many places.Saubha was its capital.Martikavati (alias Matika, Matrika, Matrikavati) also was mentioned as the capital of Salwa kingdom. The famous princeSatyavan was from Salwa. He married the Madra princess,Savitri, the daughter of Madra king Aswapati. Their history is a famous narration in Mahabharata. Seven chapters 3:291 to 3:297 is dedicated to this history of Satyavan and Savitri.
There was, in ancient times, a king in the race ofPuru, known by the name of Vyushitaswa. He was devoted to truth and virtue. Vyushitaswa, who was endued with the strength of ten elephants very soon performed the horse-sacrifice, overthrowing, all the kings of the East, the North, the West and the South, and exacted tributes from them all. The seven children all of whom became king, three Salwas and four Madras were sons of Vyushitaswa. (1:121).
Salwa kingdom is mentioned very close to Madra kingdom at (6:9) which describe kingdoms of Bharata Varsha. Another kingdom namedSalwasena is mentioned close toTrigarta kingdom. The Matsyas, the Panchalas, theSalways and the Surasenas were mentioned as not very far away from Kuru kingdom at (5:54). KingJayadratha ofSauvira kingdom is mentioned as travelling to Salwa kingdom through Kamyaka woods. (3:262).
Salwas were included in the kingdoms that falls in the larger circle of the mainstream culture propounded by the Kurus and Panchalas
TheKauravas with thePancalas, the Salwas, theMatsyas, the Naimishas, theKoshalas, the Kasapaundras, theKalingas, theMagadhas, and theCedis who are all highly blessed, know what the eternal religion is. (8:45).
Dyumatsena was the father ofSatyavan, the famous prince who wedded theMadra princessSavitri. Section 3:292 describes the history of Dyumatsena:-
There was, amongst the Salwas, a virtuousKshatriya king known by the name of Dyumatsena. And it came to pass that in course of time he became blind. And that blind king possessed of wisdom had an only son. And it so happened that an old enemy dwelling in the vicinity, taking advantage of the king's mishap, deprived him of his kingdom. And thereupon the monarch, accompanied by his wife bearing a child on her breast, went into the woods. His son, born in the city, began to grow in the hermitage. The Brahmanas have named the son Satyavan. In his childhood he took great delight in horses, and used to make horses of clay. And he used also to draw pictures of horses. And for this that youth is sometimes called by the name of Chitraswa. TheMadra princess Savitri knew about this prince and fell in love with him. Later she married him. Dyumatsena's minister somehow slew the enemy king and Dyumatesena regained his kingdom.
A Salwa king namedShalva Kumara (5:179) was mentioned as a lover ofAmba, the eldest princess ofKasi kingdom, who was abducted byBhishma, a warrior fromKuru kingdom, along with her sisters Ambika and Ambalika. Bhishma wished to make her the wife of Kuru princeVichitravirya, but Amba wished to marry the Salwa king. Bhishma sent her to Salwa but the Salwa king rejected her.
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Yet another Salwa king (3:12, 7:11) attackedDwaraka, this Salwa king was an ally ofShishupala,Dantavakra andRukmi. According to the narration in the epic, he possessed an aircraft known asSaubha Vimana and used it for travel and for aerial warfare.In detail, according to mahabharata, when Krishna had gone for Pandavas Rajasuya, king of Saubha attacked his city Dwarawati. To encounter him, Samva, Charudeshna, Pradyumna(Rukmani son) came out. They speedily defeated enemy commander and made him flee the battle, and killed all of the Danavas aiding him in battle by fiery weapons. To fight enemy king, Krishna son Pradyumna challenged him. They first commenced an aerial battle and later for better encounter descended from their cars. They both started to pierce each other with greater weapons making other unconscious each time. At last when about to be killed, King Salwa retreated from battle. When Krishna returned, he found his city gardens and damsels devoid of beauty. Upon knowing everything that had happened, he promised them to slay his enemy.Krishna with his army marched for the attack and found King Salwa in an island pursuiting ocean coarse. And when battle began, both side started to shower arrows upon each other. Krishna started to kill all the Danavas aiding to the latter side. Seeing his side at loss, Salwa used an illusion causing enemy heroes to get confused of the environment and killed Krishna charioteer. And also made Vasudeva to get stuck in his illusion causing him to desist from fight. Later concluding in his mind that it was illusion he recovered his senses and started to fight afresh by discharging fiery weapons. Seeing this opponent Danavas showered mighty rocks upon them killing Krishna steeds but Krishna destroyed their shower by using thunderbolt as his weapon. At last, Krishna hurled his powerful discus Sudarshana and killed all the remaining tribes including Salwa. Killing everyone at the lord command it returned to Krishna.[1] (SeeDwaraka kingdom for more details).
The eighteen tribes of the Bhojas, from fear ofMagadha kingJarasandha, have all fled towards the west; so also have the Surasenas, the Bhadrakas, the Vodhas, the Salwas, the Patachchavas, the Susthalas, the Mukuttas, and the Kulindas, along with the Kuntis. And the king of theSalwayana tribe with their brethren and followers; and the southern Panchalas and the eastern Kosalas have all fled to the country of the Kuntis. (2:14).
A Salwa king allied withDuryodhana inKurukshetra War (5:161). At (9:20) his final battle against thePandavas is mentioned. A Salwa king has sided withPandavas too in theKurukshetra War. (7:23) Bhimaratha, (brother ofDuryodhana), with six sharp shafts of great swiftness and made wholly of iron, despatched Salwa along with his steeds and charioteer toYama’s abode. Salwakas along withMalavakas were mentioned as allies of thePandavas ( 5:57). At (5:30) Salwakas were mentioned as fighting forKauravas.