Sudra and Abhira were mentioned as two kingdoms where the river Saraswati existed only as a dried up river bed during the time of Kurukshetra War. After the fall of the Dwaraka federation, when Arjuna was taking the Yadav women of Dwaraka to Indraprastha, the Abhira tribes attacked him and took away the women and all the wealth.

Abhira kingdom finds reference in Hindu scriptures, but its description and location varies according to the particular scripture. The most ancient reference to Abhira Kingdom indicates its location on the banks of the river Saraswati. Other references indicate its location on the banks of the Indus.