Story of Kuru

Genealogy and birth.

The very famous King Kuru was born in the Puru dynasty. His genealogy is given hereunder. Descended from Viṣṇu thus: Brahmā-Atri-Candra-Budha-Purūravas-Āyus-Nahuṣa-Yayāti-Puru-Janamejaya-Prācinvān-Pravīra-Namasyu-Vītabhaya-Śuṇḍu-Bahuvidha-Saṃyāti-Rahovādī-Raudrāśva-Matināra-Santurodha-Duṣyanta-Bharata-Suhotra-Suhotā-Gala-Garda-Suketu-Bṛhatkṣatra-Hasti-Ajamīḍha-Ṛkṣa-Saṃvaraṇa-Kuru.

To Kuru were born four sons called Parīkṣit, Sudhanus, Jahnu and Niṣadhāśva. The genealogy of the Kuru Kings is as follows: Sudhanus-Cyavana-Kṛti-Uparicaravasu-Bṛhadratha-Kuśāgraja-Ṛṣabha-Puṣpavān-Juhu.

Jarāsandha was another son of Bṛhadratha. Jarāsandha had four sons called Soma, Sahadeva, Turya and Śrutaśru. From Jahnu, the following sons were born:—Suratha-Viḍūratha-Sārvabhauma-Jayatsena,-Ravīya-Bhāvuka-Cakroddhata-Devātithi-Ṛkṣa-Bhīma and Pratīca. Pratīca had three sons called Devāpi, Śantanu and Bālhīka. Śantanu is known as Mahābhiṣak also. Dhṛtarāṣṭra and Pāṇḍu were the successors of Śantanu, and they came to be known as Kauravas also as they belonged to the dynasty of Kuru. But, since the sons of Pāṇḍu were born of Devas they may not be called Kauravas. 2) Other Information. (1) Kurukṣetra became holy and sanctified on account of Kuru’s tapas. (Ādi Parva, Chapter 94, Verse 80).

(ii) While Kuru was once ploughing a land in Kurukṣetra Indra appeared there, and they had a talk. (Śalya Parva, Chapter 53 Verse 6).

(iii) While Kuru was once performing a yajña at Kurukṣetra, the river Sarasvatī went there under the name Sureṇu (Oghavatī) and watered the land. (Śalya Parva, Chapter 38, Verses 26 and 27).