The Cambridge History of India, Vol. I: Ancient India v1.c19.s1.18

v1.c19.s1.18

In an appendix to the Dīgha verse the names of the seven kings of the seven nations are given, and it is curious that they are called the seven Bhāratas. Their names are Sattabhu, Brahmadatta, Vessabhu, Bharata, Reṇu, and two Dhaṭaraṭṭhas; but the record does not tell us which of the seven nations each belongs to. In an interesting story at Jātaka III, 470¹, the hero is Bharata, king of the Sovīras, reigning at Roruva. This is most probably meant for the same man as the Bharata of the Dīgha passage; and we may therefore apportion him to the Sovīras. The mention of Reṇu in a list of ancient kings of Benares given in the Dīp. III, 38–40 probably refers to the Reṇu of our passage since the same rare name is given in both places as the name of the father of Reṇu. On the other hand the King Reṇu of Jātaka IV, 144 is evidently not meant to be the same as this one. Three of the other four names also recur (not Sattabhu); but no inference can be drawn that the same people are meant.