He is the eldest son of King Virata and his wife Sudeshna, at whose court the Pandavas spend their one year of anonymity during their exile.

When news arrived at the palace, Uttara confidently boasted about how he would single-handedly wipe out the Kauravas, underestimating their strength.

Upon the prodding of his mother and her maid, he took his sister's dancing teacher, the eunuch Brihannala, who was in reality Arjuna, as his charioteer.

As they approached the Kuru army, Uttara panicked at the sight and asked Brihannala to turn back.

When he refused, citing Kshatriya dharma, Uttara dismounted the chariot and ran for his life, only for Arjuna to run up to him and catch him.