Bharata, the noble king, had nine sons born to him from his three wives. Yet, when he declared, “These are not suitable for me,” their mothers, overcome by fear of being cast aside, took the lives of their own sons. Thus, Bharata found himself without an heir, unable to produce a son to continue his line. Moved by his plight, the Maruts—the divine storm gods who delight in the Soma sacrifice—desired to grant him a son. By their will, and through the power of Bṛhaspati, a child was born to Mamata, the wife of Utathya and daughter of Dīrghatamas. This son was given to Bharata and was named Bharadvāja. There is a verse recited to explain his name: “O Bṛhaspati, lift up this burden, this child, Bharadvāja!” Thus, when both parents departed after uttering these words, the child came to be known as Bharadvāja. As Bharadvāja was given by the Maruts when Bharata had no son of his own, he was also called Vitatha. Vitatha, in time, had a son named Manyu. Manyu’s sons were four: Bṛhatkṣatra, Mahāvīrya, Nagara, and Garga. From Nagara came a son named Saṃkṛti, and Saṃkṛti’s line produced Guruprīti and Antideva. Garga’s son was Śini, and from Śini arose the Gārgya lineage, where, in time, Kṣatriya-born Brāhmaṇas appeared. Mahāvīrya’s son was Durukṣaya, who had three sons: Trayyāruṇi, Puṣkariṇa, and Kapi. These three, though born of the Kṣatriya order, later attained the status of Brāhmaṇas. Bṛhatkṣatra’s son was Suhotra, and from Suhotra came Hasti, the founder of the city of Hastinapura. Hasti had three sons: Ajamīḍha, Dvijamīḍha, and Purumīḍha. From Ajamīḍha descended Kaṇva, and Kaṇva’s son was Medhātithi; from Medhātithi sprang the Kaṇvāyana Brāhmaṇas. Ajamīḍha also had another son, Bṛhadiṣu. Bṛhadiṣu’s son was Bṛhaddhanu, whose son was Bṛhatkarmā. From Bṛhatkarmā came Jayadratha, from Jayadratha came Viśvajit, and from Viśvajit was born Senajit. Senajit had sons named Rucirāśva, Kāśya, Dṛḍhahanus, and Sahanus. The line of Rucirāśva continued through his son Pṛthusena, and from Pṛthusena came Pāra. Pāra’s son was Nīla, who had one hundred sons. Among these, the foremost was Samara, lord of Kāmpilya. Samara had three sons: Pārasu, Supāra, and Sadaśva. From Supāra descended Pṛthu, from Pṛthu came Sukṛti, and from Sukṛti, Vibhrāja. Vibhrāja’s son was Aṇuha, who took Kīrtti, the daughter of Śuka, as his wife. Their son was Brahyadatta, and from Brahyadatta came Viṣvaksena, then Udaksena, and then Bhallābha. Turning to Dvijamīḍha’s line, his son was Yavīnarasa. Yavīnarasa’s son was Dhṛtimān; from him came Satyadhṛti, then Dṛḍhanemi, then Supārśva, then Sumati, and from him, Sannatimān. Sannatimān had a son who was taught the practice of yoga by Hiraṇyanābha. This son composed the collections of the twenty-four eastern Sāma melodies. From him was born Ugrāyudha. Thus, through trials, divine intervention, and the blessings of sages and gods, the line of Bharata flourished, giving rise to great kings, sages, and Brāhmaṇas, their names and deeds woven into the rich tapestry of Sanātana Dharma.