Brihadratha


Brihadratha, also known as Maharatha, was the founder of the Barhadratha dynasty, the earliest ruling dynasty of Magadha. According to the Mahabharata and the Puranas, he was the eldest of the five sons of Vasu, the Kuru king of Chedi and his queen Girika. The name of Brihadratha is also found in the Rigveda.

Name

The literal meaning of the name Brihadratha is "Many/Great chariots".

Life

Brihadratha established his dynasty in Magadha. Ripunjaya was the last in his lineage, who was killed by his minister in sixth century BC.
All the Puranas mention his sister Amna, as his successor. Kushagra was succeeded by his son Vrishava. Pushpavanta was the son of Vrishava. Pushpavanta was succeeded by his son Satyahita. Satyahita's son was Sudhanvana. Dhanusha was succeeded by his son Sarva. Sarva was succeeded by his son Sambhava. According to the Agni Purana, Sambhava was succeeded by his son Jarasandha, the noted warrior king mentioned in the Mahabharata. However, all other Puranic genealogical lists mention the name of Brihadratha again between either Jantu and Jarasandha or Sambhava and Jarasandha. Jarasandha was succeeded by his son Sahadeva who was killed in the Kurukshetra war.

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