Bharata (भरतः)
Son of Dusyanta born of Sakuntala.
Lineage
Descending in order from Visnu - Brahma-Atri-Candra-Budha-Pururavas-Ayus-Nahusa-Yayati-Puru-Janamejaya - Pracinva - Pravira-Namasyu - Vitabhaya-Surtdu-Bahuvidha- Samyati - Rahovadi - RaudraSva-Matinara-Santurodha-Dusyanta-Bharata.
2)Birth. Dusyanta was once hunting in the forests when
he hit a fawn with his arrow. The fawn (led to the
ASrama of Kanva Muni and the king followed it. On
reaching the ASrama grounds he saw Sakuntala waterins;
the plants helped by her companions Anasuya and
Priyamvada. Dusyanta and Sakuntala fell in love with
each other at first sight. Kanva was absent from the
Asrama and the/ married according to the Gandharva
rites and Sakuntala became pregnant soon. The king
gave her his signet ring as a sign of faith and left for
his palace. When Dusyanta left her Sakuntala fell into
a deep reverie and she never knew about the arrival of
the arrogant sage, Durvasas to the asVama. Durvasas
mistook her as disrespectful and cursed her saying that
she would be forgotten by the man of whom she was
thinking then. Sakuntala never knew about the curse
also.
1 18 BHARATA II
Kanva Muni when he returned to the Airama andknew
everything, sent Sakuntala to the palace of Dusyanta.
But King Dusyanta never recognised her and when
Sakuntala was returning deeply grieved Menaka her
mother, took her and left her in theasramaof KaSyapa.
There Sakuntala delivered a son. The boy grew brave
and fearless and he could subdue even the wildest of
animals around there. KaSyapa, therefore, named him
Sarvadamana.
Once when Dusyanta was returning home after visiting
Indra he saw Sakuntala, recognised her, and took her
and the boy to his palace. This was the boy who later
on became known as Bharata. (Chapter 73, Adi Parva,
M.B.).
3) Marriage and reign. Bharata was a partial incarnation
of Mahavisnu. Even while he was young he became
a ruler and conquering the world destroyed the wicked.
Bharata had three wives. All the sons born to them
were bad and so the mothers killed them all. Aggrieved
over the loss of his sons he worshipped the devas to
get a son for him. At that time the great preceptor
Brhaspati forcibly married Mamata the wife of his
brother. Mamata was pregnant then and when she
conceived from Brhaspati also she bore two children.
On delivery she threw the child of Brhaspati in the
forests and went away with the other son.
The Devas took care of the discarded child and named
him Bharadvaja and gave the child to Bharata. Bharata
gave the boy the name Vitatha (Dlrghatamas) . Bharata
ruled over his land for twentyseven thousand years and
the land was, therefore, called Bharata. (Sloka 96,
Chapter 2, Adi Parva, M.B.) .
After ruling the land ideally he left for the forests
entrusting the land to his son, Vitatha. (Navama
Skandha, Bhagavata) .
Vitatha also was called Bharata and he had five sons:
Suhotra, Suhota, Gaya, Garbha and Suketu. (Chapter
278, AgniPurana).
BHARATA II. Son of Dasaratha.
1) Genealogy. Descending in order from Visnu-