The Story of King Bharata

Sometime later, Shakuntala gave birth to King Dushyant's son and named him Bharat. The boy was handsome and endowed with godly qualities. Before turning five, he used to play with lions, cheetahs, and panthers. He also became knowledgeable about the Vedas and Shastras and quickly acquired a royal child's merits. Shakuntala was euphoric to witness her son’s unusual talents, which sometimes caused her to forget her separation from her husband.

Tired of waiting, Shakuntala traveled to King Dushyanta's palace by boat with her young son. As per Sage Durvasa's curse, when she arrived at the palace, the King failed to recognize her. It was only then that she realized she had lost her ring—the one her husband had given her—underwater. Frustrated, she decided to live in the forest.

Sometime later, a fisherman found a ring in the belly of a fish he had caught. The ring had the King's emblem on it. He went straight to the palace and delivered it to King Dushyanta. When the King saw the ring, his memories of Shakuntala came rushing back per Sage Durvasa's remedy to the curse.

On another hunting expedition, the King saw a boy playing with a lion cub in the woods. When Dushyanta quizzed the boy, the latter said his parents were "Shakuntala and King Dushyanta." King Dushyanta's happiness knew no bounds. The boy led him to Shakuntala, after which the trio went to the palace and lived happily ever after. When King Dushyanta grew old, Bharata became king and was given the title "Chakraborty Emperor" quickly.

King Bharata possessed numerous virtues. He was courageous, generous, selfless, honest, and had a strong sense of justice. He surpassed all his predecessors in kingship. He was willing to forgo his own pleasures for the welfare of his people. In a rare move, he decided that none of his nine sons were worthy of the throne and instead named Bheemanya, the son of Sage Bharadwaja, his successor.

He was the first king to establish democratic rule, breaking the tradition of succession based on birthright. His decision to crown Bhimanya as prince demonstrated his generosity and impartiality as a ruler. He prioritized the well-being of his people over the interests of his own family. Several generations later, King Kuru took the throne, and King Bharata's lineage became known as the Kuru dynasty.