Bahugava

THE LIVING ARCHIVE

About Bahugava

He is the son of the Paurava Sudyumna and the father of Samyati in the Vishnu Purana. Bhayada precedes his father, while Ahamyati follows his son. The name therefore belongs to a specific royal generation, not to the whole family or a supernatural principle.

AT A GLANCE

Identity & Context

Identity: King
Form: Paurava Royal House
Tradition: Puranic Royal Genealogy

Family & Relationships

ParentSudyumna
Sudyumna is the parent of Bahugava.
ChildSamyati
Bahugava is the parent of Samyati.

IN THE TRADITION

Recorded Context

Between Two Branching Generations

Bahugava’s descendants proceed through Samyati and Ahamyati to Raudrashva. Raudrashva’s household includes ten sons, and Riteyu’s branch continues to Rantinara. Rantinara in turn has Tansu, Apratiratha and Dhruva. Through Tansu and Anila, one route within this widening family reaches Dushyanta.

The later branch reaches Dushyanta and Shakuntala’s son Bharata. Bharata’s succession becomes a separate turning point when the royal line continues through Vitatha, identified with Bharadvaja in this account. The genealogy then divides among several families, including the ancestors of Hastinapura and Panchala. These are later descendants, not events personally performed by the earlier ancestor.

ROLE & ESSENCE

Attributes & Significance

Bahugava’s immediate family makes the earlier Paurava sequence traceable without erasing the generations before Raudrashva’s larger household. His role is dynastic continuity within the family that later carries the Bharata name.

Role

Bahugava is an early Paurava ancestor in the lineage leading toward Dushyanta and Bharata. He stands in the middle of the generations between Manasyu and Raudrashva.

TRADITION & MEANING

Traditions & Interpretations

The Bhagavata likewise places Bahugava before Samyati and Ahamyati, although its names in the preceding generations differ from the Vishnu Purana’s. The shared stretch does not erase those earlier differences.