Dasharatha is a monarch of the Ikshvaku dynasty and the father of Rama, the protagonist of the Ramayana, the earlier of the two major Indian epics.
Dasharatha is often shown as a good monarch, but, like many other figures in Indian mythology, his final fate is determined by the repercussions of a curse that he cannot escape.
Dasharatha used to like hunting as a young guy.
He shoots an arrow to the area where he hears the sound of an animal drinking at a creek on one occasion.
When he goes to investigate, he discovers a young guy who has been hit by his arrow, along with the water jug he had been filling at his side.
With his final breaths, the young man tells Dasharatha that he is his blind parents' only source of support and orders Dasharatha to notify them of his death.
Dasharatha is a man of honor, and he honors the boy's last wish.
When the boy's father hears the account, he becomes enraged and curses Dasharatha to die in the same way, without his sons.
For many years, it seemed that Dasharatha's curse would not be fulfilled since he had no sons despite having three wives: Kausalya, Kaikeyi, and Sumitra.
Dasharatha supports a number of religious ceremonies for the birth of boys before commissioning the sage Rishyashringa to make a tremendous sacrifice.
A glowing figure comes from the sacrificial fire at the end of the ceremony, sets a pot of milk-rice in front of Dasharatha, and tells him to give it to his wives.
Dasharatha distributes the pot's contents between Kausalya and Kaikeyi, who each give Sumitra a portion.
Kausalya gives birth to Rama, Kaikeyi to Bharata, and Sumitra gives birth to twins Lakshmana and Shatrughna after getting a portion from each of her co-wives.
Dasharatha is blissfully pleased as his boys grow into maturity, and the memory of the curse slips from his mind.
Rama demonstrates his skill and kindness as a young man, and Dasharatha chooses him to be the heir apparent.
The curse, however, comes to fruition the night before the ceremony.
The whisperings of Rama's maid Manthara subtly poisoned his stepmother Kaikeyi's psyche throughout the preparations leading up to his investiture.
Manthara persuades Kaikeyi that when Rama is proclaimed heir-apparent, she and her son Bharata would be nothing more than slaves.
Kaikeyi is forced to take harsh measures as a result of this.
Dasharatha had promised Kaikeyi two benefits in exchange for her assistance in winning a big battle many years previously.
She has never asked for these things before, but she now demands that Rama spend fourteen years in exile in the jungle, and that her own son, Bharata, take his place as king.
Dasharatha begs Kaikeyi to reconsider, but she is certain that her desires must be fulfilled if Dasharatha is to maintain the family honor.
Later, Dasharatha begs Rama to defy him and seize the kingdom by force, but Rama refuses since it is an unjust deed.
Rama departs into the wilderness, thereby preserving the family honor, but Dasharatha dies of a broken heart as a result of his grief at being separated from Rama.
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