(The BH in this name is pronounced like a hardened sound of 'b' in 'bus'. The TH is pronounced like 'th' in 'with'. In the alternative name, the D is pronounced like 'th' in 'brother' . The N is pronounced like 'n' in 'no'.)
Bharatha was one of the earlier ancestors of the Paandavas in the Lunar branch of kshathriya dynasties.He was the son of the great Dushyantha and Shakunthala. He was also one of the six ancient emperrors. He ruled from Hasthipuram of the kouravas.
When his father Dushyantha went on hunting and stumbled upon the hermitage of sage Kanva who was away at that time, he saw there the sage's foster daughter Shakunthala. ( She was left uncared when she was born,by his father sage Vishvaamithra and mother divine damsel Menaka. The birds in the forest were guarding the baby when Kanva passed that way and brought her home and took care. Hence her name, Shakunthala; 'shakuntha' means 'bird'.)
The king and Shakunthala fell for each other and he married her by gaandharva system of marriage ( Ancient marriages of are eight types- dyva,aarsha, braahma,praajaapathya, gaandharva, raakshasa and pyshaachika - details in the context of droupadi's marriage in aadi parva )but only after granting Shakunthala's demand that her son should succeed him to the throne.. After spending there for a few days and before the sage's return, Dushyantha left for his capital, leaving the pregnant Shakunthala there with a word of soon sending his men for her. But he did not send any one to bring her.
The sage Kanva returned and learnt what had happened but he felt happy that his daughter chose a good hand. After three years of pregnancy, she delivered a male baby. The boy grew up and became very naughty and mighty. He used to play with the tigers and lions which he would tie to the trees in the hermitage. The sages fondly called him Sarvadamana ( sarva=all, damana=tamer).
Kanva thought that it was improper for a married woman to live in the parental abode,away from her husband for unduely long period and sent Shakunthala to Dushyantha, with the companionship of his disciples. When Shakunthala saw the king not enthusiastic about her coming, she felt inconvenient and feared his illfeelings. Still, she reminded to the king about their marriage that had happened at the forest and prayed him to receive her and the son. Dushyantha outright rejected her words denying his contact with her before, despite her elaborate efforts to convince him. When she had no other way but to leave , the divine voice from the heaven declared before everybody that she was saying truth and the king should take care of the son. Dushyantha was only happy about it and explained to his courtiers that he was to say so to avoid public scandal because the incident was unknown to the world and it might have caused a scandal on his character if he had readily accepted her, as nobody might believe that his marriage with her was a fact. As the divine voice ordained Dushyantha to 'take care' of the son, the boy was known as Bharatha (bhara= take care). Dushyantha received Shakunthala and Bharatha affectionately . Bharatha succeeded his father and ruled for long, performing many sacrifices with huge gifts to the conductors and participants.
It was after his name that his entire race was later known as 'bhaarathas'(=descendents of Bharatha). Many people confused that our country got its name after this Bharatha ( as bhaaratham). That is a mistake. Our country's name comes from a very ancient ruler, also named Bharatha, but son of Rishabha. And there was a person named Bharatha in the Raamaayanam too, Raama's half-brother. Still more, there was yet another Bharatha , the composer of 'Naatyashaashtram'(The science of dance). Not to end the list, there was a different Bharatha, a sage of ancient times.The reader should not confuse with the similar names of different people of different ages of different places.