According to several Purāṇas, Āhuka is the son of Punarvasu, belonging to the vaṁśa (genealogical line) of Yadu-Vṛṣṇi. However, in Harivaṁśapurāṇa it is said that Āhuka was the grandson of Punarvasu. Punarvasu’s son Abhijit was the father of Āhuka.

King Āhuka was an eminent personality, with much wealth and power. In Vāyupurāṇa and Brahmāṇḍapurāṇa it is said that he, along with a great army, attacked the Bhoja kingdom. These Bhoja people had occupied the region of Vindhya Parvata, and it is said in the Purāṇas that they were descendants of Druhyu, son of Yayāti. The Bhoja people, in all probability, suffered a great defeat at the hand of King Āhuka. In the description of the expidition of Āhuka, there is a grand mention of cavalry and elephants in his army, and at the same time, he himself is referred to as Bhoja. In this regard, the descendants of Āhuka had also been referred to as Bhoja. The victory over the Bhoja was the most noteworthy achievement of Āhuka as a king. His other qualities have also been hailed in the Purāṇas.
In Vāyupurāṇa and Brahmāṇdapurāṇa, in course of describing Āhuka’s powers and achievements, suddenly it is mentioned that Dhṛti wasthe son of Āhuka –Āhukasya Dhṛtiḥ putraḥ.

Before and after this mention, we find the description of Āhuka̍s conquest of the Bhoja kingdom and his wealth. The description of Āhuka̍s son and daughter comes much later. Naturally, doubt is raised upon this statement, ̍Dhṛti is the son of Āhuka̍. If the version of Matsyapurāṇa is compared to that of Vāyupurāṇa and Brahmāṇḍapurāṇa, it appears that the reading of Vāyupurāṇa and Brahmāṇḍapurāṇa is wrong. In Matsyapurāṇa it is said,
āhukasya bhṛtiṃ prāptā ityetadvai taducyate.
That is, people employed by Āhuka praised a lot abouthis power and wealth. This reading seems more valid to us. This mention is also relevant. In those days, the captive Māgadha(s) were in most cases employed by kings, to sing their praise. In such praises, there was some historical truth, there was exaggeration, too. The Paurāṇika(s) have said that the achievements of Āhuka were sung by these vandī(s).

Āhuka gave her sister, Āhukī, away to marry the king of Avantī. It is not known, however, whether this decision helped him in a political way to conquer the Bhoja kingdom.

The princess of Kāśī was the wife of Āhuka. She bore him two children– a son called Ugrasena and a daughter called Ugrasenā.