Sages & Others
Ikshvaku
इक्ष्वाकु
First of the Solar Kings
Who was Ikshvaku?
Ikshvaku (इक्ष्वाकु): First of the Solar Kings, one of the sages and supporting figures in the Mahabharata. Son of Manu and founder of the line that carried Bhagiratha, Sagara, Saudasa and Rama, from whom the sword of protection passed down through Pururavas and Nahusha to the Bharatas.
Quick Facts
| Sanskrit name | इक्ष्वाकु |
|---|---|
| Title / Epithet | First of the Solar Kings |
| Faction | Sages & Others |
| Key traits | Just, Ancient, Generous, Tested |
| Notable relationships | Predecessor: Kshupa, Litigant before him: Virupa, Litigant before him: Vikrita, Witness of his trial: Yama |
| Featured in | 2 stories |
About Ikshvaku
Son of Manu and founder of the line that carried Bhagiratha, Sagara, Saudasa and Rama, from whom the sword of protection passed down through Pururavas and Nahusha to the Bharatas. In the Shanti Parva he is the king deadlocked with a reciter of the Gayatri, each refusing what the other insists on giving, until two ragged litigants force him to judge a debt and he unknowingly passes sentence on himself, whereupon Desire and Wrath reveal who they are.
In Their Words
A man who refuses what is honestly offered him deserves punishment. So I rule.
Ikshvaku
Traits
- Just
- Ancient
- Generous
- Tested
Story Appearances
Stories Featuring Ikshvaku
One further tale on this site names Ikshvaku.
Character Arc
- The InheritanceTakes the sword of kings from Manu's son Kshupa
- The DeadlockWill not accept the merit the reciter presses on him
- The VerdictJudges the debt and finds he has judged himself
Key Relationships
Places in Ikshvaku's Story
Drawn from the stories Ikshvaku appears in.
Related Characters
Others counted among the Sages & Others.