The adopted heir of Emperor Bharata and an early king of the Kuru line.
Accounts of this vary across texts and traditions. This entry primarily follows Mahabharata, with other tellings (Puranic traditions (Harivamsha, Bhagavata Purana), Regional retellings) noted where relevant.
Bhumanyu is an early king of the lunar dynasty from which the Kurus descend. In the Adi Parva he is the heir whom Emperor Bharata chose in place of his own sons.
The Adi Parva says that Bharata found his own sons unfit to rule and rejected them. He adopted Bhumanyu as his successor instead. Bhumanyu's son Suhotra continued the line.
This entry is independently written for myVamsam using the sources listed above. Where traditions differ, this entry identifies the relevant tradition rather than presenting one account as universally established fact.