# इक्ष्वाकु (ikṣvāku)

Canonical page: https://sanskritlexicon.com/word/ikshvaku

इक्ष्वाकु (ikṣvāku) is a Sanskrit word meaning the name of a man, a son of Manu Vaivasvata, a descendant of Ikshvaku, name of a warrior tribe descended from Ikshvaku, a bitter gourd, the first prince of the solar dynasty and son of Vaivasvata. Its 22 recorded definitions are grouped into 6 contexts, among them Descendants or Lineage of Ikṣvāku, Progenitor King and His Lineage (Combined), Multiple Meanings: Personage and Plant.

- **SLP1:** `ikzvAku`  **IAST:** ikṣvāku  **Devanagari:** इक्ष्वाकु
- **Wikipedia:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ikshvaku
- **Declensions:** 72 forms — https://sanskritlexicon.com/word/ikshvaku/declensions.md

## Meanings by context

### Descendants or Lineage of Ikṣvāku (6 definitions)
- a descendant of Ikshvaku  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > a descendant of Ikṣvāku, R.; Ragh. [ ID=28633.2 ]
- Name of a warrior tribe descended from Ikshvaku  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > ( अवस् (avas) ), N. of a warrior-tribe descended from Ikṣvāku, VarBṛS. [ ID=28633.4 ]
- The descendants of Ikshvaku, or a people of that name.  
  *Index to the Names in the Mahabharata*
  > Ikṣvāku 2, pl. ( °āḥ ) (“the descendants of Ikṣvāku,” also name of a people). § 223 (Vāsiṣṭha): I, 174, 6642 (had Vasiṣṭha for their purohita).—§ 225 (do.): I, 177, 6777 (the ancestors of Kalmāṣapāda).—§ 273 (Rājasūyārambhap.): II, 14, 569 ( Ailavaṃśyāś ca ye —i.e. the Lunar race— rājan, tathaive°avo nṛpāḥ —i.e. the Solar race— tāni caikaśataṃ viddhi kulāni ).—§ 382 (Agastyop.): III, 98, 8608 ( °rājasattamaḥ, i.e. Trasadasyu).—§ 383 (Paraśurāma): III, 99, 8664 (the family of Rāma Dāśarathi).—§ 387 (Sagara): III, 106, 8831 ( °ūṇāṃ kule jāto Sagaraḥ ).—§ 461 (Vāmadevacarita): III, 192, †13198 (ruled by Śala and Dala, the sons of Parikṣit [of Ayodhyā]), †13204, †13206, †13209 ( °rājyaṃ ). —§ 478 (Dhundhumārop.): III, 204, 13621 (said of the descendants of Kuvalāśva's sons).—§ 522 (Draupadīharaṇap.): III, 265, ††15596 ( °rājñaḥ Subalasya (B. Subhavasya ) putraḥ, a follower of Jayadratha); 271, 15743 ( Śibīn I°mukhyāṃś ca, followed Jayadratha and was vanquished by Arjuna). [ ID=4604 ]
- descendant of Ikshvaku or king of the Ikshvakus  
  *Index to the Names in the Mahabharata*
  > Ikṣvāku 3, sg. (“descendant of Ikṣvāku or king of the Ikṣvākus”) = Kuvalāśva; III, 13486 ( K° ), 13490 ( K° ). [ ID=4605 ]
- Brihadashva  
  *Index to the Names in the Mahabharata*
  > Ikṣvāku 4, sg. (do.) = Bṛhadaśva: III, 13512 ( B° ). [ ID=4606 ]
- Haryashva  
  *Index to the Names in the Mahabharata*
  > Ikṣvāku 5, sg. (do.) = Haryaśva: V, 3934 ( H° ). [ ID=4607 ]

### Progenitor King and His Lineage (Combined) (5 definitions)
- 1. An ancient king and his descendants. 2. A people.  
  *Macdonell Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > इक्ष्वाकु (ikṣvāku) [Printed book page 045-1 ] इक्ष्वाकु (ikṣvāku) ikṣvākú, m. N. of an ancient king and his descendants: pl. N. of a people : -kula-ja, a. born in the family of Ikṣvāku. [ ID=4076 ]
- 1. The first king of the solar dynasty in Ayodhya. 2. A descendant of Ikshvaku.  
  *Vaidya Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > इक्ष्वाकु (ikṣvāku) [Printed book page 116-06 ] इक्ष्वाकु (ikṣvāku) m. 1. The first king of the solar dynasty in Ayodhyā; 2. a descendent of इक्ष्वाकु (ikṣvāku) e.g. गलितवयसामिक्ष्वाकूणामिदं हि कुलव्रतम् (galitavayasāmikṣvākūṇāmidaṃ hi kulavratam) R. iii.70. [ ID=5723 ]
- 1. The first king of Ayodhya. 2. A descendant of that king.  
  *Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > इक्ष्वाकु (ikṣvāku) [Printed book page 0098-b ] इक्ष्वाकु (ikṣvāku) ikṣvāku, m. 1. The name of the first king of Ayodhya, Rām. 1, 70, 20. 2. A descendant of that king, Rām. 1, 70, 11. [ ID=1842 ]
- Name of a king and his descendants  
  *Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > इक्ष्वाकु (ikṣvāku) [Printed book page 073 ] इक्ष्वाकु (ikṣvāku) m. N. of a king & his descendants. [ ID=4883 ]
- An ancient prince or hero.  
  *The Vedic Index of Names and Subjects*
  > इक्ष्वाकु (ikṣvāku) [Printed book page 1-075 ] Ikṣvāku. — In the Rigveda this name occurs but once, 1 and in a doubtful context. It is clear, however, that it denotes a prince; later interpretations make Asamāti, whose name is read into the hymn, an Ikṣvāku prince. 2 In the Atharvaveda 3 also the name is found in only one passage, where it is uncertain whether a descendant of Ikṣvāku, or Ikṣvāku himself, is referred to; in either case he seems to be regarded as an ancient hero. In the Pañcaviṃśa Brāhmaṇa 4 mention is made of Tryaruṇa Traidhātva Aikṣvāka, who is identical with the Tryaruṇa Traivṛṣṇa of the Bṛhaddevatā, 5 and with Tryaruṇa Trasa- dasyu in the Rigveda. 6 The connection of Trasadasyu with the Ikṣvākus is confirmed by the fact that Purukutsa was an Aikṣvāka, according to the Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa. 7 Thus the Ikṣvāku line was originally a line of princes of the Pūrus. Zimmer 8 places them on the upper Indus, but they may well have been somewhat further east. 9 Later Ikṣvāku is connected with Ayodhyā [ Footnote: 1) x. 60, 4.] [ Footnote: 2) Cf. Jaiminīya Brāhmaṇa, iii. 167; Sāṭyāyanaka in Max Müller, Rigveda, 4, c-cvii, 167; Journal of the American Oriental Society, 18, 42; Bṛhaddevatā, vii. 85 et seq., with Macdonell's notes.] [ Footnote: 3) xiv. 39, 9. Cf. Bloomfield, Hymns of the Atharvaveda, 680; Whitney Translation of the Atharvaveda, 961.] [ Footnote: 4) xiii. 3, 12.] [ Footnote: 5) v. 14 et seq. ] [ Footnote: 6) v. 27, 3. Cf. Sieg, Die Sagenstoffe des Ṛgveda, 68-75; Macdonell, Bṛhad- devatā, 2, 170; Oldenberg, Vedic Hymns, 366 et seq.; Ludwig, Translation of the Rigveda, 3, 133, 138; 4, 324.] [ Footnote: 7) xiii. 5, 4, 5.] [ Footnote: 8) Altindisches Leben, 104, 130.] [ Footnote: 9) Cf. Pischel, Vedische Studien, 2, 218; Geldner, ibid., 3, 152.] [ ID=308 ]

### Multiple Meanings: Personage and Plant (4 definitions)
- 1. The first prince of the solar dynasty and son of Vaivasvata. 2. A bitter gourd.  
  *Wilson Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > इक्ष्वाकु (ku) (ikṣvāku) [Printed book page 129 ] इक्ष्वाकु (ku) (ikṣvāku) m. ( - कु (ku) ः (-kuḥ) ) The son of the Menu VAIVASVATA, the son of SŪRYA or the sun, and first prince of the solar dynasty: he reigned at Ayodhya in the commencement of the second Yuga or age. f. ( - कु (ku) ः (-kuḥ) ) A bitter gourd. E. इक्षु (ikṣu) and अक (aka) to obtain, and कु (ku) or उण् (uṇ) aff. [ ID=6195 ]
- 1. The first monarch of the Hindus. 2. A bitter gourd.  
  *Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > इक्ष्वाकु (ikṣvāku) [Printed book page 105-a ] इक्ष्वाकु (ikṣvāku) ( कुः ) ((kuḥ)) 2. m. The 1st monarch of the Hindus. f. A bitter gourd. [ ID=5577 ]
- 1. The first prince of the solar dynasty and son of the Manu. 2. A bitter gourd.  
  *Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > इक्ष्वाकु (ku) (ikṣvāku) [Printed book page 106-b ] इक्ष्वाकु (ku) (ikṣvāku) m. ( - कु (ku) ः (-kuḥ) ) The son of the Manu NAIVASWATA, the son of SURYA or the sun, and first prince of the solar dynasty: he reigned at Ajodhya in the commencement of the second Yuga or age. f. ( - कु (ku) ः (-kuḥ) ) A bitter gourd. E. इक्षु (ikṣu) and अक (aka) to obtain, and कु (ku) or उण् (uṇ) aff. [ ID=6193 ]
- 1. Name of a son of Manu Vaivasvata and first king of the solar dynasty in Ayodhya. 2. A bitter gourd or colocynth.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1872)*
  > इक्ष्वाकु (ikṣvāku) [Printed book page 0138-a ] इक्ष्वाकु (ikṣvāku) ikṣvāku, us, m., N. of a son of Manu Vaivasvata, father of Kukṣi and first king of the solar dynasty in Ayodhyā; a descendant of Ikṣvāku; the Jainas derive their Cakravartins and many of their Arhats from Ikṣvāku; ( ās ), m., N. of a warrior-tribe derived from Ikṣvāku; ( us ), f. a bitter gourd; according to some, the Coloquintida (Citrillus Colocynthis), the fruit of a wild species of Lagenaria Vulgaris. —Ikṣvāku-kula-ja, as, ā, am, born in the family of Ikṣvāku. [ ID=9843 ]

### The Progenitor King Ikṣvāku (4 definitions)
- The name of a man  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (H1) [Printed book page 164,1] इक्ष्वाकु (ikṣvāku) m. [ Ṛg-veda (Title) ] and इक्ष्वाकु (ikṣvāku) [ Atharva-veda (Title) ]. N. of a man, Ṛg-veda (Title) x, 60, 7; Atharva-veda (Title) xix, 39, 9 [ ID=28633 ]
- a son of Manu Vaivasvata  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > of a son of Manu Vaivasvata (father of Kukṣi and first king of the solar dynasty in Ayodhyā), MBh.; R.; Bhag.; Hariv.; VP. [ ID=28633.1 ]
- an ancient king, the son or great-grandson of Manu Vaivasvata  
  *Index to the Names in the Mahabharata*
  > इक्ष्वाकु (ikṣvāku) [Printed book page 327-1 ] Ikṣvāku 1, an ancient king, the son or great-grandson of Manu Vaivasvata. § 3 (Anukram.): I, 1 γ, 47 ( Yayātī°- vaṃśaḥ, descended from Daśajyotis, etc.). § 5 (do.): I, 1 α, 220 (in Nārada's enumeration of departed kings).—§ 139 (Manu Vaivasvata): I, 75, 3140 (the fifth son of Manu Vaivasvata).—§ 161 (Mahābhiṣa): I, 96, 3843 ( °vaṃśapra- bhavaḥ…Mahābhiṣaḥ ).—§ 224 (Kalmāṣapāda): I, 176, 6696 ( °vaṃśajaḥ, sc. Kalmāṣapādaḥ ).—§ 225 (Vāsiṣṭha): I, 177, 6778 ( °kulavṛddhaye ).—§ 273 (Rājasūyārambhap.): II, 14, 568 ( °vamśasya —i.e. the Solar race—opp. to Ailasya, i.e. the Lunar race).—§ 348 (Nalopākhyānap.): III, 66, 2629 ( °kulajaḥ, sc. Ṛtuparṇa).—§ 376 (Tīrthayātrāp.): III, 85, 8270 ( yathā ).—§ 378 (do.): III, 94, 8506 ( yathā ).— § 407 (Māndhātrup.): III, 126, 10427 ( °vaṃśaprabhavo Yuvanāśvaḥ ).—§ 461 (Vāmadevacarita): III, 192, ††13145 ( Ayodhyāyām I°kulodvahaḥ pārthivaḥ Parikṣin nāma ).—§ 475 (Dhundhumārop.): III, 202, 13515 (succeeded by Śaśāda in the kingdom of Ayodhyā).—§ 525 (Rāmopākhyānap.): III, 274, 15877 ( Ajaḥ…I°vaṃśajaḥ ).—§ 574 (Jambūkh.): VI, 9 αα, 314.—§ 576 (Bhagavadgītāp.): VI, 28, 994 ( imaṃ Vivasvate yogaṃ proktavān ahaṃ avyayaṃ | Vivasvān Manave, prāha Manur Ikṣvākave 'bravīt, sc. the contents of Bhagavad- gītā, cf. XII, 13598).—§ 656 (Khaḍgotpattik.): XII, 166 δ, 6193 (obtained the sword from Kṣupa, from I. it passed over to Purūravas), 6198 ( °vaṃśajaḥ…Hariṇāśvaḥ ).—§ 662 (Mokṣadh.): XII, 199, 7198 ( Kāla-Mṛtyu-Yamānān te I°or brāhmaṇasya ca | vivādaḥ ), 7199.—§ 662 b (Jāpakop.): XII, 199, 7233 (the tale of I. and the brahman who was a jāpaka).—§ 717 b (Nārāyaṇīya): XII, 349, VII), 13598 (learnt the [Sātvata, cf. v. 13575 (only B.) and 13580] religion ( dharma ) from Manu, cf. VI, 994).—§ 720 b (Sudar- śanop.): XIII, 2, 88 (the son of Manu and the father of 100 sons, among whom Daśāśva was the tenth).— § 746 (Ānuśāsanik.): XIII, 78, 3732 ( °vaṃśajo rājā Saudāsaḥ, i.e. Kalmāṣapāda).—§ 761 (do.): XIII, 115 δ, 5668 (among the kings who did not eat meat during the month of Kārttika).—§ 775 (do.): XIII, 166 γ, 7684 (enumeration).—§ 778 b (Saṃvartta-Maruttīya): XIV, 4, 66 (son of Kṣupa and grandson of Prasandhi, the son of Manu), 67 (father of 100 sons, among whom Viṃśa was the eldest). [ ID=4603 ]
- 1. One of the sons of Vaivasvata Manu born of his sneezing. 2. The originator of the solar race of kings.  
  *The Purana Index*
  > इक्ष्वाकु (ikṣvāku) [Printed book page 1-183 ] Ikṣvāku — one of the ten (nine- Br. P. ) sons of Vaiva- svata Manu. Born of his sneezing. 1 Father of a hundred sons — Vikukṣi, Nimi, Daṇḍa and others. 25 of these sons ruled Āryāvarta, 25, the western territory, three, the middle country and the rest all other provinces. Once in connec- tion with an Aṣṭaka ritual, Vikukṣi was asked to secure some flesh. Accordingly he did. But feeling hungry he partook a part of hare's flesh. When the remainder was presented, the Purohita refused to take it on the ground that it was remain- der of that already tasted. Vikukṣi was therefore punished with banishment. It is said that he became a yogin and attained salvation. 2 A king known for his exemplary pro- tection of his subjects. Parīkṣit compared to him. 3 Promi- nent kings of his line. 4 Knew the power of Hari's yoga, and in his line Hari incarnated. 5 Sumitra was the last Kṣatriya king of this line. 6 Originator of the solar race; the genea- logy given down to Śantāyu of the Bhārata war. 7 Heard from Vasiṣṭha of Ila's conversion to the other sex in the Śara- vaṇa forest and performed Aśvamedha by which Ila was Page1-184+ 27 turned into a Kimpuruṣa. 8 Was addressed by the Pitṛs in Kalāpa forest on the effect of offering śrāddha at Gayā. 10 The line of. 11 Had 100 branches. 12 [ Footnote: 1) Bhā. VIII. 13. 2; IX. 1. 3 and 12; 2. 2; Vā. 64. 29; 85. 4; 88. 9; Vi. IV. 1. 7; Br. II. 38. 30; III. 60. 2 and 20; 63. 8; M. 9. 30; 11. 41.] [ Footnote: 2) Bhā. IX. 6. 4-10; Vi. IV. 2. 15-18.] [ Footnote: 3) Bhā. I. 12. 19.] [ Footnote: 4) M. 12. 15-56; Vā. 99. 280-290.] [ Footnote: 5) Bhā. II. 7. 23 and 44; XII. 2. 37;] [ Footnote: 6) Br. III. 74. 244; M. 273. 53; Vā. 99. 266 and 431.] [ Footnote: 7) M. 12. 15-56.] [ Footnote: 8) M. 12. 1-15.] [ Footnote: 10) Vi. III. 1. 33; 16. 17-18.] [ Footnote: 11) Vā. 1. 142; 88. 175-184; Vi. IV. 22. 1-13.] [ Footnote: 12) Vā. 99. 451.] [ ID=1492 ]

### A Bitter Gourd (Plant) (2 definitions)
- a bitter gourd  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > इक्ष्वाकु (ikṣvāku) f. ( उस् (us) ) a bitter gourd [ ID=28633.5 ]
- the Coloquintida, a fruit of a wild species of Lagenaria Vulgaris  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > according to some, the Coloquintida ( Citrillus Colocynthis ), the fruit of a wild species of Lagenaria Vulgaris, Suśr. [ ID=28633.6 ]

### Ikṣvāku in Buddhist/Jain Traditions (1 definition)
- This entry contains an editorial note regarding the derivation of Buddhist and Jaina Chakravartins and Arhats from Ikshvaku.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (some Buddhists as well as the Jainas derive their Cakravartins and many of their Arhats from Ikṣvāku) [ ID=28633.3 ]

## Sources

Definitions from Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Index to the Names in the Mahabharata; Macdonell Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1872); Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899); Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary; The Purana Index; The Vedic Index of Names and Subjects; Vaidya Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Wilson Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary.
Text from the Cologne Digital Sanskrit Lexicon, University of Cologne.

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