As per the epic
Mahabharata, the 'Kunti Kingdom' was the kingdom of
Kuntibhoja, one of the prominent kings among the
Bhoja Yadavas.
Kunti, the mother of
Pandavas and the first wife of
Kuru king
Pandu, was the adopted daughter of the king Kuntibhoja. Her given name was Pritha and she was a sister of
Vasudeva, the father of
Vasudeva Krishna. The Kunti kingdom was neighbour to the
Avanti Kingdom. It was probably to the north of Avanti.
References in Mahabharata
The 18 tribes which fled due to attacks from Jarasandha
★ Mahabharata, Book 2, Chapter 14
''
Jarasandha was a powerful Ancient Indian king who ruled
Magadha.''
The eighteen tribes of the Bhojas, from fear of
Jarasandha, 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 the Salwayana tribe with their brethren and followers; and the southern
Panchalas and the eastern
Kosalas have all fled to the country of the
Kuntis. So also the
Matsyas and the Sannyastapadas, overcome with fear, leaving their dominions in the north, have fled into the southern country. And so all the Panchalas, alarmed at the power of
Jarasandha, have left their own kingdom and fled in all directions.
Kingdoms near Kuru Kingdom
''
Pandavas thought about selecting one among these kingdoms to spent their 13th year of exile in anonymity, forced upon them by
Duryodhana.''
★ Mahabharata, Book 4, Chapter 1
Surrounding the kingdom of the Kurus, are, many countries beautiful and abounding in corn, such as Panchala, Chedi, Matsya, Surasena, Pattachchara, Dasarna, Navarashtra, Malla, Salva, Yugandhara, Saurashtra, Avanti, and the spacious 'Kunti'-Rashtra (Kingdom).
List of Kingdoms in Bharata Varsha (Ancient India)
★ Mahabharata, Book 6, Chapter 9
''From the extract below, it seems there were two kingdoms with the name Kunti, one Kunti proper and the other Apara Kunti, which means a Kunti Kingdom farther away.''
.......the Chedis, the Karushas, the Bhojas, the Sindhus, the Pulindakas, the Uttamas, the Dasarnas, the Mekalas, the Utkalas; the Panchalas, the Kausijas, the Nikarprishthas, Dhurandharas; the Sodhas, the Madrabhujingas, the Kasis, and the further-Kasis; the Jatharas, the Kukuras, the 'Kuntis', the Avantis, and the 'Apara-Kuntis'; the Gomantas, the Mandakas, the Shandas, the Vidarbhas, the Rupavahikas; the Aswakas, the Pansurashtras, the Goparashtras, and the Karityas; the Adhirjayas,.....
Bhargava Rama's Annihilation of Khsatrias
★ Mahabharata, Book 7, Chapter 68
The valiant son of Jamadagni,
Bhargava Rama, proceeding against the Kashmiras, the Daradas, the 'Kuntis', the Kshudrakas, the Malavas, the Angas, the Vangas, the Kalingas, the Videhas, the Tamraliptakas, the Rakshovahas, the Vitahotras, the Trigartas, the Martikavatas, counting by thousand, slew them all by means of his whetted shafts.
Kurukshetra War
★ Mahabharata, Book 8, Chapter 6
The 'Kuntis' possessed of great prowess in battle, endued with great energy and great might, have been slain in fight by
Bhishma, with all their kinsmen and advisers.
See also
Kingdoms of Ancient India
References
★ Mahabharata of
Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa, translated to English by Kisari Mohan Ganguli