Part 2.1m - The Paurava Dynasty

It is already mentioned earlier that Puru, the youngest son of Yayāti was the founder of Paurava dynasty. He was succeeded by his illustrious son Janamejaya.^[1] Prācitvata, the son of Janamejaya was the father of Manasyu. Pitāyudha was the son of Manasyu. Pītāyudha begot a son named Dhundhu. The heirs of Dhundhu were Bahuvidha, Saṃpāti, Rahamvarcā and Bhadrāśva respectively. Bhadrāśva had ten sons. Among them the eldest son was Auceyu who was the father of Rantināra. Rantināra by his queen Ilinā begot four sons Ṛṣyanta, Duṣyanta, Pravīra and Anagha. Duṣyanta was the father of Bharata, the world conqueror and universal Emperor.^[2] His successors were called the Bharatas and the country was named after them as Bhāratavarṣa. Bharata was succeeded by his son Bharadvāja who is also known as Vitatha. Bhūvamanyu was Vitatha’s son, who was the father of four sons; Vṛhatkṣetra, Mahāvīrya, Nara, and Garga. Nara was succeeded by his son Saṃkṛti. Saṃkṛti had two sons–Gurudhī and Rantideva.

The valiant king Vṛhatkṣetra had a son Hastī by name. He had three sons: Mīḍha, Dvimīḍha and Purumīḍha.^[3] But, in the Mahābhārata they had been mentioned as Ajamīḍha, Dvimīḍha and Purumīḍha.^[4] Ajamīḍha continued the main Paurava lineage at Hastināpura. Ajamīḍha's son Kanva was succeeded by Medhātithi.^[5] Ajamīḍha's another son was Bṛhadanu who was further succeeded by Bṛhanta, Bṛhanmanā, Bṛhaddhanu, Bṛhadiṣu, Jayadratha, Aśvajit, Senājita etc. Senājita had four famous sons; Rucirāśva, Kāvya, Dṛḍharatha and Vatsāvarta. Vatsāvarta was the king of Avantideśa. Senājita’s another son Ruciraśva was succeeded by his son Pṛthusena. Pṛthusena had a son Paura by name. Nīpa was the son of Paura. The successors of Nīpa were known as Nīpās. Janmejaya was one of the successors of this dynasty.^[6]