Asita

Asita was an ancient king of the Ikshvāku line of the Sūryavaṃśa (the solar dynasty). He is named in the family history of that dynasty which Vasishṭha Maharshi recited in the Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa of the Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa. In that list he stands among the Ikshvāku kings between the founders of the dynasty and the great forefathers just before Daśaratha.

In the Ikshvāku line

Vasishṭha told the full line of the Sūryavaṃśa at Citrakūṭa. This account sets out the dharmic standing and history of the Ikshvāku family. It begins with Brahmā, then Marīci, Kaśyapa, Vivasvān (Sūrya), Manu and Ikshvāku. It then follows the kings, one generation after another, down to Daśaratha and Rāma.

Asita is named among the kings of this line. He kept up the dharmic way of the Ikshvāku dynasty.

Sources

• Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, the chapters of Vasishṭha’s account of the line (within Chapters 100–110)