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why did king bharat not give his kingdom to his own sons ?

Bharata was an unconventional ruler. He ruled his empire more like a democracy giving control to his citizens. This could also be a necessity to rule a large territory which contained almost the whole of present day India. Usually a king's eldest son inherits his kingdom. Bharata had many sons. Mahabharata mentions about nine sons born of his three wives. But he did not give throne to any of them but chose Bhumanyu the son of Bharadwaja to be the next king. Bharadwajas were a lineage of sages belonging to the race of Angiras. Bharata believed that his decision of making Bhumanyu his successor was just, and in line with his principle of democracy. It is not clear if Bhumanyu was a leader of the people in those days, or if he had the support of the public.

It could also because of the influence of the Bharadwajas who were then gaining prower in comparison the the Bhargavas, in those days. Bharadwajas also followed a rigid form of Vedic culture compared to the Bhargavas. Nevertheless, the fact remains that, emperor Bharata choose to make Bhumanyu, his heir not by his own choice but based on the choice of his people. This definitely is a sign of the rudimentary form of democracy that prevailed during the reign of Bharata.

Barbarika was the son of Ghatotkacha(Son of Bheema) and Maurvi (Ahilawati), daughter of Muru, a Yadava king.

Barbarika was originally a yaksha, and was reborn as a man.