( The U is a vowel, pronounced like u in 'put', both the 'TH's are pronounced like th in 'with'.)
He was the younger son of king Viraata of Mathsya kingdom. He was also referred to as Bhoominjaya . Svetha was his elder half-brother . ( His sister was Uththara. The spelling is same for both the names in english, though they differ in the ending in Samskritham. Context clarifies the reference. Also, in samskritham, the direction 'north' too is named Uththara, with the same spellig as this name. Do not get confused. )
During the 13 th year of their exile incognito , the Paandavas lived concealed in the Mathsya kingdom . Kouravas tried to trace them to send them back on exile per the terms of the dice game . The news of Keechaka's killing made the Kouravas suspect the presence of the Paandavas in Viraata's kingdom. They arranged for two different campaigns against Viraata, with one day gap, one on the southern front under the command of the Thrigartha king Susharma and the other lead by Duryodhana himself on the northern front .
With Viraata leaving the town to meet the challenge on the northern side , there was no one to defend from the northern attack except Viraata's younger son Uththara, who was kept in the guard of the kingless capital. When the lead cowhand from the north brought the news of capture of the cows and exorted him to act to save them , Uththara who was then chit-chatting with the women folk in the palace, felt exhilarated . He copiously swaggered himself and ventured to fight the Kouravas singlehandedly with the only available Brihannala, who was none other than the guised Arjuna , as his chariot driver . But, the very sight of the mighty army of the Kouravas with invincible stalwarts such as Bheeshma, Drona , Kripa, Asvaththaama and Karna sent a shiver of fear through his spine. He jumped from the chariot and fled away but Arjuna caught hold of him within a hundred steps and convincingly forced him to take the job of driving and shouldered the burden of fightnig himself.
He disclosed himself to Uththara and that made the young prince really confident.
After the victory, Viraata too learnt the fact that the Paandavas were in his town for the last one year and happily offered his daughter Uththara to Arjuna in marriage. But Arjuna declined the offer and allowed her to be married to his son Abhimanyu in stead .
Uththara was only afraid of his being alone but otherwise he was a normal fighter . He fought in the war for the Paandavas and was killed by Shalya on the first day of the war.
His character is an example of human natural weaknesses like fear and braggertness occuring even in the people of high brought-up .
"After praying to Naaraayana, Nara, Sarasvathi and Vyaasa, then one should read the Jayam."
DEDICATED TO MY DEAR NIECE VYSHNAVI KRISHNA