Part 2.1o - The Kaurava Dynasty

Samvarṇa's son Kuru, as mentioned in the Purāṇas^[1] and the Mahābhārata^[2] was made king by the people. He raised the Paurava realm to great eminence and extended his sway beyond Prayāga. Kuru carved out a new kingdom, which was named after him as Kurukṣetra, i.e., the land of the Kuru. ^[3] Kuru’s successors were called the Kurus or Kauravas after him who represents the combination of Bharatas and Purus. The Kurus bacame famous as rulers of their respective states. The territories occupied by them extended to the east far beyond the limits of Kurukṣetra.

The dynasties of Cedi, Magadha and the adjoining countries descended from Kuru's son. One of the noteworthy developments during the period concerned that Vasu the fourth in succession from Sudhanvān, conquered the Yādava kingdom of Cedi^[4] and thereby obtained the title Caidyoparicara. Vasu divided his territories among his five sons Bṛhadratha, Pratyāgraha, Kuśa or Kusamba, Tejas and Maruta or Matsya. The five different dynasties sprang from them. The countries and towns occupied by them were named after themselves. Cedi and Magadha were two of those five kingdoms and another three kingdoms were Kausāmbī, Kuruṣa and Matsya.^[5]

Bṛhadratha, the eldest son of Vasu, took Magadha with Girivraja as its capital. Bṛhadratha of Magadha was succeeded by Kuśāgra, Vṛṣabha, Punyavān, Satyadhṛti, Sudhanvā, Sarva, Sambhava, Jarāsandha and his son Sahadeva during the period concerned.^[6] Bṛhadratha himself and nine of his successors are supposed to have reigned before the Kali age. Jarāsandha, one of the successor of this dynasty was perished at the hand of Kaṃsa and in his place Sahadeva was installed on the throne. Sahadeva was an ally of Pāṇḍavas and was killed in the war. His son Marjari or Somādhi or Somāvit was his successor and the first king of Magadha after the war. From him Bṛhadratha dynasty ruled over Magadha approximately for one thousand (1000) years.