Sages & Others
Dasaratha
दशरथ
King of Ayodhya
Who was Dasaratha?
Dasaratha (दशरथ): King of Ayodhya, one of the sages and supporting figures in the Mahabharata. The Ikshvaku king in whose house Vishnu took birth as Rama for the destruction of Ravana, as Markandeya told it to the Pandavas in exile.
Quick Facts
| Sanskrit name | दशरथ |
|---|---|
| Title / Epithet | King of Ayodhya |
| Faction | Sages & Others |
| Key traits | Bound, Grieving, Truthful, Royal |
| Notable relationships | Father: Rama, Father: Lakshmana, Father-in-law: Sita, Tester of his house: Parashurama |
| Featured in | 4 stories |
About Dasaratha
The Ikshvaku king in whose house Vishnu took birth as Rama for the destruction of Ravana, as Markandeya told it to the Pandavas in exile. Bound by an old promise to a queen, he sent his eldest and best-loved son into the forest and died of that grief, and it is his command that Rama honoured above a kingdom. When Parashurama came testing the new-born hero's line, it was Dasaratha who sent his son out to meet the axe-bearer with respect.
In Their Words
A king may lose a son and live; he may not lose his word and remain a king.
Dasaratha
Traits
- Bound
- Grieving
- Truthful
- Royal
Story Appearances
Stories Featuring Dasaratha
3 further tales on this site name Dasaratha, in canonical reading order.
Character Arc
- The BoonAn old promise takes his son from him
- The ExileSends Rama to the forest and cannot follow
- The MeetingSends his son out to receive Rama of Bhrigu's line
Key Relationships
- FatherRama
- FatherLakshmana
- Father-in-lawSita
- Tester of his houseParashurama
Places in Dasaratha's Story
Drawn from the stories Dasaratha appears in.
Related Characters
Others counted among the Sages & Others.