Dasharatha (Sanskrit: दशरथ, IAST: Daśaratha), originally named Nemi, is a king described in the Hindu epic Ramayana. He ruled the kingdom of Kosala from its capital at Ayodhya, and is remembered chiefly as the father of Rama, the central figure of the epic.
According to the tradition preserved in the Ramayana, Dasharatha had three principal consorts: Kausalya, Sumitra and Kaikeyi. From these queens were born his four sons—Rama, Bharata, Lakshmana and Shatrughna—who occupy prominent roles in the narrative of the epic. Rama, born of Kausalya, is the protagonist of the Ramayana, while the other princes share closely in the events of the story.
Dasharatha is also mentioned in the Vishnu Purana, which places him within the genealogies and narratives associated with the Ikshvaku lineage of Kosala. Through these textual references, he is regarded in the Hindu tradition as a significant figure in the lineage that culminates in the life and deeds of Rama.
Adapted from the English Wikipedia article on Dasharatha (source).