Maccha (Matsya) , Mahajanapadas

Not much information is available about Matsya who are traditionally associated with modern Jaipur–Bharatpur – Alwar region of Rajasthan. Their capital was at Viratnagara, the famous hiding place of the Pandavas. The Mahabharata refers to this place as suitable for cattle rearing thatis why when the Kaurawas attacked Virat they took away cattle as booty. Since it was primitive, Matsya could not compete with the powers which had settled agriculture as their base. It was therefore absorbed by the rising Magadhan Empire. Some of the most famous Ashoka edicts have been found in Baurat (Jaipur district), the ancient Virat.