O large-eyed Shakuntala, radiant in her beauty, received a prophecy: her son would become a universal emperor, and her husband, King Dushyanta, would conquer the three worlds. Rathantari, the sage, further assured her that she herself would enjoy divine pleasures. Hearing these words, Shakuntala’s heart overflowed with supreme joy. In accordance with the sacred rites prescribed in the scriptures, King Dushyanta made Shakuntala his chief queen, adorning her with splendid ornaments. To honor this union, the king bestowed wealth upon the Brahmins and rewarded his soldiers generously. Thereafter, he installed his son, born of Shakuntala and known as the Dauṣyanti, as his successor. This son he named Bharata, consecrating him as crown prince. Having entrusted the kingdom to Bharata, King Dushyanta felt his royal duties were fulfilled. After ruling the kingdom justly for a full hundred years, Dushyanta retired to the forests, where he attained the world of the gods. Bharata, the illustrious son of Dushyanta, received the kingdom according to law. With his reign, the renowned deeds of this great soul began to shine forth. Bharata was brilliant, divine, and unconquered, his fame celebrated throughout all the worlds. He subdued the rulers of the earth, making them obedient to his will. Upholding the dharma of the righteous, Bharata attained unsurpassed fame and became a universal emperor, mighty and sovereign over all. Like Indra, the lord of the Maruts, Bharata performed many grand sacrifices, with the sage Kanva officiating, just as Daksha had in days of old, and he gave abundant gifts. Among his many sacrifices was the splendid horse sacrifice called Govitata, during which he presented a thousand golden lotuses to Kanva. Along the banks of the Yamuna, Bharata performed a hundred ashvamedha sacrifices; three hundred more he conducted on the Sarasvati, and four hundred along the Ganga. Through these great sacrifices, King Bharata, son of Dushyanta and Shakuntala, spread the fame of the Bharata lineage far and wide. Though Bharata had sons from noble women, he did not accept them as his own, declaring, “They are not worthy to be called mine.” Angered, their mothers took these sons to the abode of Yama, and thus, for Bharata, the birth of sons proved fruitless. Later, Bharata performed further great sacrifices, and from the sage Bharadwaja he obtained a son named Bhumanyu. Overjoyed to have a worthy heir, Bharata, the best among the Bharatas, installed Bhumanyu as crown prince, bringing joy to the Paurava line. Bhumanyu, in turn, had a son named Diviratha, as well as Suhotra, Suhota, Suhavi, and Suyajus. In Pushkarini, Bhumanyu’s sons included Ruchika and others, but Suhotra, the eldest, inherited the sovereignty of the earth. Suhotra performed many sacrifices, including the Rajasuya and Ashvamedha, and ruled the entire earth, girdled by the sea. Under Suhotra’s reign, the earth was filled with elephants, cows, horses, and abundant jewels, so much so that it was heavily burdened. The land teemed with elephants, horses, chariots, and throngs of people, and King Suhotra governed his subjects with righteousness. Sacrificial posts stood everywhere, by the hundreds of thousands, and the earth shone with abundant people and crops. From Suhotra and an Ikshvaku princess were born Ajamidha, Sumidha, and Purumidha. Among them, Ajamidha was foremost, and in him the lineage was established. Ajamidha begot six sons from three wives: Riksha, Dhūmin, Nīlī, Duṣyanta, Parameshthin, and Keśin. He also begot Jahnu and two sons named Janarūshi. From Riksha was born the heroic Samvarana, son of Rathantara. The Panchalas trace their descent from Duṣyanta and Parameshthin, while the mighty Janhu was the ancestor of the Kuśikas. Among the sons of Janarūsha, Riksha is said to be the eldest and the king. From Riksha was born Samvarana, the ancestor of your line, O king. When Samvarana, son of Riksha, ruled the earth, a great calamity befell the land. Famine, death, drought, and diseases ravaged the kingdom, bringing destruction to the Bharatas and their rivals alike, shaking the earth and its armies. At that time, the princess of the Panchalas, having conquered the earth by force, advanced against Samvarana with ten divisions and defeated him in battle. Fleeing in fear, King Samvarana, with his wife, ministers, sons, and friends, left his kingdom behind. The Bharatas journeyed westward, taking refuge in a dense thicket by the great river Sindhu, near its banks and close to the mountains. There, in that difficult and remote place, the Bharatas lived for many years, enduring for a thousand years. In time, the venerable sage Vasishtha came to the Bharatas. They welcomed him with care, offering water for hospitality and respectfully telling him all that had transpired. When Vasishtha was seated, the king himself requested, “Be our priest, so that we may strive for the kingdom.” Vasishtha replied with the sacred syllable “Om,” accepting the Bharatas and anointing the Paurava as emperor over all the Kshatriyas. Thus, it is said, he ruled from the foremost city, which stood like a horn upon the earth, a city once inhabited by Bharata himself.