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][failed verification] The Mahabharatha states that Jarasandha was the son of Brihadratha[4] and the greatest ruler of the dynasty.

The astronomical works based on the Vishnu Purana state that the Brihadratha dynasty lasted for 1,000 years.

[1]: 290 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.

[1]: 290 The last of the Brihadratha dynasty was Ripunjaya, who was killed by a minister named Punika (Pulika).