Daśaratha

Also known as: Dasaratha / King Daśaratha · Family: Ayodhyá · Role: king · First appears: Book I, Canto 1 · Nárad

In Nárad’s summary of the poem, Daśaratha rules Ayodhyá and grants Kaikeyí the two boons she demands: Ráma’s exile and her son’s succession. He complies, and, grieving for Ráma, dies; the poet’s summary likewise tells of his grief and death. The fuller account in Book I shows him seeking sons through a sacrifice: after consulting Vaśishṭha and inviting Rishyaśring to assist, he receives heavenly nectar and shares it among Kauśalyá, Sumitrá, and Kaikeyí. Their sons include Ráma, Lakshmaṇ, Bharat, and Śatrughna; Śántá is also his daughter.

In Book I, Daśaratha welcomes Viśvámitra but first refuses to send Ráma with him; after counsel, he entrusts Ráma and Lakshmaṇ to the sage. He later travels to Janak’s kingdom for Ráma’s marriage. In Book II, he resolves to appoint Ráma heir, but Kaikeyí claims the promised boons. Daśaratha pleads with her to relent and then, unable to keep Ráma from accepting exile, urges him to stay: “But O, a little longer stay, / Nor turn thy steps this night away”. He consents to the departure, provides for Sítá’s journey, and collapses in grief as they leave.

After Sumantra returns with Ráma’s message, Daśaratha faints from grief. In Book II, Canto 63, he recalls that in his youth he accidentally killed a hermit’s son while hunting by sound; the hermit’s father cursed him to mourn his own son and die. Daśaratha dies grieving for Ráma, and his body is preserved until the funeral rites. In Book VI, Canto 121, he recognizes the divine power in Ráma and, at Ráma’s request, revokes his curse before returning to heaven.