Bharata (Mahabharata)

Bharata
Painting of Bharata, Raja Ravi Varma
PredecessorDushyanta
SuccessorBhumanyu
TextsMahabharata
Genealogy
ParentsDushyanta (father), Shakuntala (mother)
SpouseSunanda[1]
Two unnamed wives[2]
ChildrenBhumanyu, Bharadvaja (adopted)
DynastyChandravamsha

Bharata (Sanskrit: भरत, romanizedBharata)[3][4] is a legendary emperor featured in Hindu literature. He is a member of the Chandravamsha dynasty, and becomes the Chakravarti (Chakra possessing emperor).[5] He is regarded to be the ancestor of the Pandavas, the Kauravas, Brihadhrata, and Jarasandha.

The legend of Bharata is featured in the Adi Parva of the Mahabharata, where he is mentioned as the son of Dushyanta and Shakuntala.[6][7] The story of his parents and his birth is related in Kalidasa's famous play, Abhijñānashākuntala. He is a descendant of rajarshi Vishvamitra.

According to popular tradition, Bhārata,[8] one of the traditional names of the Indian subcontinent, is named after Bharata.[9]

Many depictions call him as Digvijaya Chakravartin Samrāj Sarvadamana Bharata (Sanskrit: दिग्विजय-चक्रवर्तिन्-सम्राज्-सर्वदमन भरत, romanized: digvijaya-cakravartin-samrāj-sarvadamana bharata, lit.'The World-conquering Bharata, who is victorious wherever he goes, whose chariot wheels are always turning, who rules over Kings'; Sanskrit pronunciation: [d̪ɪg.ʋɪ.dʑɐˈjɐ tɕɐk.ɾɐ.ʋɐɾˈt̪ɪn̪ s̪ɐmˈɾɑːdʑ s̪ɐɾ.ʋɐ.d̪ɐ.mɐˈn̪ɐ bʰɐ.ɾɐˈt̪ɐ]).[citation needed]

  1. ^ The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (Complete). Library of Alexandria. ISBN 9781465526373.
  2. ^ An Introduction to Epic Philosophy: Epic Period, History, Literature, Pantheon, Philosophy, Traditions and Mythology. Cosmo Publications. 2004. ISBN 9788177558784.
  3. ^ "The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Sambhava Parva: Section LXXIV". www.sacred-texts.com.
  4. ^ "The Mahabharata in Sanskrit: Book 1: Chapter 69". www.sacred-texts.com.
  5. ^ www.wisdomlib.org (11 April 2009). "Bharata, Bhārata, Bharatā, Bharaṭa: 44 definitions". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
  6. ^ Apte, Vaman Shivaram (1959). "भरतः". Revised and enlarged edition of Prin. V. S. Apte's The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary. Poona: Prasad Prakashan. Archived from the original on 13 January 2016. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
  7. ^ Buitenen, J. A. B. van (1973). "Introduction". Mahabharata Book I: The book of beginnings. University of Chicago Press. ISBN 9780226846637.
  8. ^ Julius Lipner (2010) "Hindus: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices.", p.23
  9. ^ Vyasa, Dwaipayana (24 August 2021). The Mahabharata of Vyasa: (Complete 18 Volumes). Enigma Edizioni. p. 2643.