

The boys are reared as the princes of the realm, receiving instructions from the scriptures and in warfare.

These sons are endowed, to various degrees, with the essence of the God Vishnu Vishnu had opted to be born into mortality in order to combat the demon Ravana, who was oppressing the Gods, and who could only be destroyed by a mortal. As a consequence, Rama is first born to Kausalya, Bharata is born to Kaikeyi, and Sumitra gives birth to twins named Lakshmana and Shatrughna. He was childless for a long time and, anxious to produce an heir, he performs a fire sacrifice known as Putra-Kameshti Yagna.

He had three queens: Kausalya, Kaikeyi and Sumithra. Dasharatha was the king of Kosala, the capital of which was the city of Ayodhya.
