Later Developments of Tribes and Kingdoms

Kurus-Parikshit and Janamejaya

• During the later Samhita and Brahmana age, the Bharatas and Purus no longer appear as separate tribes, having merged under the new name Kuru.

• Memories of the former greatness of the Bharatas still survived in later texts.

• The Satapatha Brahmana mentions Bharata Dauhshanti, who performed a horse sacrifice and defeated enemies on the Ganges and Jumna.

• The first great king of the Kurus is presented as Parikshit, regarded in Epic and Puranic tradition as a descendant of Kuru.

• Parikshit is mentioned in the Atharvaveda, where his reign is described as prosperous and powerful.

• Hymns praise him as ruler over peoples, bringing security and abundance to the Kuru realm.

• In his kingdom, household life is portrayed as peaceful, with references to plentiful curds, drink, and overflowing barley.

• These verses suggest that the Kuru kingdom had become stable, fertile, and well organised.

• A son of Parikshit was Janamejaya.

• Janamejaya’s horse sacrifice is celebrated in both the Satapatha Brahmana and Aitareya Brahmana.

• His brothers Ugrasena, Bhimasena, and Srutasena are said to have purified themselves of Brahmin-killing through the same sacrifice.

• Janamejaya’s capital is named Asandivanta.

• This Parikshit-Janamejaya line is distinguished from the later Parikshit and Janamejaya connected with the Pandavas.

• After Janamejaya, the chief Kuru line is said to have declined and passed through several obscure generations.

• Power was later restored by the famous Pratipa, a descendant who revived the greatness of the dynasty.

• Because of this interruption, many Puranic genealogies omit kings between Janamejaya and Pratipa.

• From Pratipa onward to the age of the Pandavas, the history of the Kurus is presented as more continuous and well known.