| Conventional Long Name: | Brihadratha dynasty |
| Common Name: | Bṛhadratha |
| Year Start: | 1700 BCE |
| Year End: | 700 BCE |
| Event End: | Assassination of Ripunjaya |
| P1: | Mahabharatha |
| P2: | Copper Hoard Culture |
| P3: | Janapada |
| S1: | Pradyota dynasty |
| S2: | Haryanka dynasty |
| S3: | Mahajanapada |
| Image Map Caption: | Magadha in 1100 BCE ruled by the Brihadratha dynasty, in the north-eastern region |
| Capital: | Girivraja |
| Common Languages: | Vedic Sanskrit |
| Government Type: | Monarchy |
| Title Leader: | King |
| Year Leader1: | 1700–1680 BCE |
| Leader1: | Brihadratha (first ruler) |
| Year Leader2: | 1680–1665 BCE |
| Leader2: | Jarasandha |
| Year Leader3: | 732–682 BCE |
| Leader3: | Ripunjaya (last ruler) |
| Today: | India |
| Religion: | Hinduism |
The Brihadratha dynasty (; IAST: Bṛhadratha) was the first dynasty of the Magadha Empire, according to the Puranas, and was founded by Brihadratha.
See main article: Brihadratha.
According to the Puranas, Brihadratha (also Maharatha) was the king of Magadha[1] and the founder of the Brihadratha dynasty. According to the Mahabharata and the Purana, he was the eldest of the five sons of Uparichara Vasu, the Kuru king of Chedi, and his queen was Girika.[2] The name 'Brihadratha' is found twice in the Rigveda (I.36.18, X.49.6); however, it is not indicated whether this refers to the father of Jarasandha.[3]
See main article: Jarasandha.
The Puranas mention that Jarasandha was the son of Sambhava. The Mahabharatha states that Jarasandha was the son of Brihadratha and the greatest ruler of the dynasty.[4] According to ancient texts, 24 Brihadratha kings ruled for many years.[5] However, the Vayu Purana, Matsya Purana, and Vishnu Purana disagree regarding the Brihadratha period of rule. The astronomical works based on the Vishnu Purana state that the Brihadratha dynasty lasted for 1,000 years.
The name of Jarasandha appears in the Puranas many times. Jarasandha was inimical to the Yadava and is mentioned as a villain in the Mahabharata.[6]
Bhima, with the help of Krishna, killed Jarasandha.[7] [8]
See main article: Sahadeva of Magadha.
According to scripture, Sahadeva was the son of Jarasandha placed on the throne of Magadha by the Pandava after the assassination of Jarasandha. Sahadeva has fought the Kurukshetra War on the side of the Pandavas. According to the Puranas, he was killed in the Kurukshetra War by Shakuni, along with his cousin Jayadeva. He was succeeded by Somadhi.[9]
Somadhi (or Somphi) was the son of Sahadeva and was placed on the throne of Magadha by the Pandavas after he agreed to be their subordinate.
The last of the Brihadratha dynasty was Ripunjaya, who was killed by a minister named Punika (Pulika). After the death of Ripunjaya, Punika placed his son Pradyota on the throne and founded the Pradyota dynasty in 682 BCE.
| 1700–1680 BCE | 20 | ||
| 1680–1665 BCE | 15 | ||
| 1665–1661 BCE | 4 | ||
| Somadhi | 1661–1603 BCE | 58 | |
| Srutasravas | 1603–1539 BCE | 64 | |
| Ayutayus | 1539–1503 BCE | 36 | |
| Niramitra | 1503–1463 BCE | 40 | |
| Sukshatra | 1463–1405 BCE | 58 | |
| Brihatkarman | 1405–1382 BCE | 23 | |
| Senajit | 1382–1332 BCE | 50 | |
| Srutanjaya | 1332–1292 BCE | 40 | |
| Vipra | 1292–1257 BCE | 35 | |
| Suchi | 1257–1199 BCE | 60 | |
| Kshemya | 1199–1171 BCE | 26 | |
| Subrata | 1171–1107 BCE | 64 | |
| Dharma | 1107–1043 BCE | 64 | |
| Susuma | 1043–970 BCE | 73 | |
| Dridhasena | 970–912 BCE | 58 | |
| Sumati | 912–879 BCE | 33 | |
| Subala | 879–857 BCE | 22 | |
| Sunita | 857–817 BCE | 40 | |
| Satyajit | 817–767 BCE | 50 | |
| Viswajit | 767–732 BCE | 35 | |
| 732–682 BCE | 50 |