King · All traditions · North India · Ayodhya

Dasharatha

King of Ayodhya of the line of Raghu, husband of Kausalya, Sumitra and Kaikeyi, childless until the horse sacrifice and the rite for a son gave him Rama, Bharata, Lakshmana and Shatrughna; in Tulsidas he is Svayambhuva Manu reborn.

Sources: Valmiki Ramayana, Bala Kanda sargas 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 (English verse-by-verse and prose renderings, valmikiramayan.net); Tulsidas, Shri Ramcharitmanas, Bal Kand, dohas 141 to 152 and 186 to 198 (Gita Press Hindi edition with commentary, archive.org; Bharatkosh doha pages; the Ram Janam Stuti) · see Dasharatha's web

Relations 5

Dasharatha consort of

Kausalya (Consort) · The payasam from the fire (the birth of Rama)
Kaikeyi (Consort) · The payasam from the fire (the birth of Rama)
Sumitra (Consort) · The payasam from the fire (the birth of Rama)

Dasharatha blessed by

Rishyashringa (Sage) · The payasam from the fire (the birth of Rama)
Performs the horse sacrifice and the Putrakameshti that give the king four sons.

Dasharatha parent of

Rama (Avatar) · The payasam from the fire (the birth of Rama)
Rama is born to Dasharatha and Kausalya after the Putrakameshti.

Stories 2

The payasam from the fire (the birth of Rama)
From the epics · as the childless king · 2 tellings
The vow Manu made (why Vishnu chose Dasharatha's house)
Legend · as Manu reborn · 2 tellings

Cited

Valmiki Ramayana, Bala Kanda sargas 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 (English verse-by-verse and prose renderings, valmikiramayan.net) § 1.8 Primary text (translation)
Valmiki Ramayana, Bala Kanda sargas 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 (English verse-by-verse and prose renderings, valmikiramayan.net) § 1.16 Primary text (translation)
Tulsidas, Shri Ramcharitmanas, Bal Kand, dohas 141 to 152 and 186 to 198 (Gita Press Hindi edition with commentary, archive.org; Bharatkosh doha pages; the Ram Janam Stuti) § 151 Primary text (translation)