Pūru-vaṁśa, Duṣmanta–Śakuntalā, and the Rise of Mahārāja Bharata
तस्य मेधातिथिस्तस्मात् प्रस्कन्नाद्या द्विजातय: । पुत्रोऽभूत् सुमते रेभिर्दुष्मन्तस्तत्सुतो मत: ॥ ७ ॥
tasya medhātithis tasmāt praskannādyā dvijātayaḥ putro ’bhūt sumate rebhir duṣmantas tat-suto mataḥ
Le fils de Kaṇva fut Medhātithi; ses fils, tous dvijas (brāhmaṇas), avaient Praskanna pour chef. Le fils de Rantināva s’appelait Sumati, et Sumati eut un fils nommé Rebhi. Le Mahārāja Duṣmanta est renommé comme fils de Rebhi.
This verse traces Duṣmanta’s lineage by stating that from Sumati came Rebhī, and Rebhī’s son is understood to be Duṣmanta, within the Puru dynasty narration.
In Canto 9, Śukadeva presents the dynastic succession (vaṁśa) to preserve sacred history and connect later celebrated figures to their forefathers within dharmic royal lineages.
They encourage respect for heritage, responsibility to uphold dharma in one’s own family line, and remembrance that Bhagavatam’s history is purposeful—leading the listener toward devotion to the Supreme Lord.