[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Reference works](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference) › [A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion, Geography, History, and Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.dowson-1879) › c5.1472 # A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion, Geography, History, and Literature c5.1472 A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion, Geography, History, and Literature c5.1472 - **Language:** English ### [c5.1472](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.dowson-1879.c5.1472) RĀMA, RĀMA-CHANDRA. Eldest son of Dasa-ratha, a king of the Solar race, reigning at Ayodhyā. This Rāma is the seventh incarnation of the god Vishnu, and made his appearance in the world at the end of the Tretā or second age. His story is briefly told in the Vana Parva of the Mahā-bhārata, but it is given in full length as the grand subject of the Rāmāyana. King Dasa-ratha was childless, and performed the aswa-medha sacrifice with scrupulous care, in the hope of obtaining offspring. His devotion was accepted by the gods, and he received the promise of four sons. At this time the gods were in great terror and alarm at the deeds and menaces of Rāvana, the Rākshasa king of Lankā, who had obtained extraordinary power, in virtue of severe penances and austere devotion to Brahmā. In their terror the gods appealed to Vishnu for deliverance, and he resolved to become manifest in the world with Dasa-ratha as his human father. Dasa-ratha was performing a sacrifice when Vishnu appeared to him as a glorious being from out of the sacrificial fire, and gave to him a pot of nectar for his wives to drink. Dasa-ratha gave half of the nectar to Kausalyā, who brought forth Rāma with a half of the divine essence, a quarter to Kaikeyī, whose son Bharata was endowed with a quarter of the deity, and the fourth part to Su-mitrā, who brought forth two sons, Lakshmana and Satru-ghna, each having an eighth part of the divine essence. The brothers were all attached to each other, but Lakshmana was more especially devoted to Rāma and Satru-ghna to Bharata. - [Previous: c5.1471](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.dowson-1879.c5.1471) - [Next: c5.1473](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.dowson-1879.c5.1473) - [Up: c5](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.dowson-1879.c5) ## Linked texts (2) - [Mahābhārata](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa) — Vyāsa, Sanskrit - [Vālmīkirāmāyaṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.ramayana.valmiki) — Vālmīki, Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.dowson-1879.c5.1472](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.dowson-1879.c5.1472) · Pramāṇa