Vedic Index of Names and Subjects v2.c4.s3.41

v2.c4.s3.41

In the later literature the Bharatas appear as especially famous. The Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa¹¹ mentions Bharata Dauḥṣanti as a king, sacrificer of the Aśvamedha (‘horse sacrifice’) and Śatānīka Sātrājita, as another Bharata who offered that sacrifice. The Aitareya Brāhmaṇa¹² mentions Bharata Dauḥṣanti as receiving the kingly coronation from Dīrghatamas Māmateya, and Śatānīka as being consecrated by Somaṣuṣman Vājaratnāyana, a priest whose name is of quite late origin. The geographical position of the Bharata people is clearly shown by the fact that the Bharata kings win victories over the Kāśis, and make offerings on the Yamunā (Jumna) and Gaṅgā (Ganges).¹³ Moreover, in the formula of the king's proclamation for the people, the variants recorded¹⁴ include Kuravaḥ, Pañcālāḥ, Kuru-Pañcālāḥ, and Bharataḥ; and the Mahābhārata consistently recognizes the royal family of the Kurus as a Bharata family.¹⁵ It is therefore extremely probable that Oldenberg¹⁶ is right in holding that the Bharatas in the times of the Brāhmaṇas were merging in the Kuru-Pañcāla people.