King Dilipa and his queen, Sudakshini, sat in their room, morose and sad. The sight of the beautiful sunset covering everything it touched in golden-ochre did nothing to ease their pain. They were the ideal royal couple ruling over their kingdom from Ayodhya. Their subjects loved them, and their fair yet powerful reign brought peace and prosperity to the Ikshvaku dynasty. 

The Worry of Childlessness – The Journey to Seek Answers

However, there was a major issue that needed to be resolved. The couple was childless, and all their efforts to conceive were in vain. While the desire to have children was important, having a responsible heir who would carry forward the legacy of their dynasty was more important. The thought of leaving their kingdom without an heir and their beloved subjects without a good ruler filled the royal couple with dread and sadness.

“What should we do, my dear queen?” Dilipa asked his wife, whose eyes glistened with unshed tears. 

“I wish I knew, my Lord. It is likely that I am carrying the karma of being childless, and have brought ill-luck to this dynasty,” she replied, her voice hoarse with worry and anxiety.

“What rubbish? How do you know it’s not my bad karma that has brought us to this situation?”

She didn’t have a response to her husband’s question. But she had an idea suddenly. “What if we knew the cause of this problem? Then, perhaps, we could have a solution?”

“How can we know the cause?”

“Well, let us go to Sage Vasishtha, the royal preceptor of our dynasty, and see if he can use his powers to help us understand the reason for our current state of affairs. Maybe either you or I, or maybe both of us, have unwittingly earned the wrath of some good soul, and therefore, have been cursed to be childless now,” Sudakshina said.

Her husband was very happy to get into action. Both of them immediately left for Sage Vasistha’s ashrama in the forest, where he was delighted to receive his king and queen. 

“It’s been a long time since you visited the ashrama. Welcome, Dilipa and Sudakshna,” the sage said and blessed them heartily as they bowed respectfully to their guru.

After offering them refreshments, the sage asked, “What brings you here? Is all well in the kingdom?”

Dilipa quickly reassured his guru, saying, “All is well with the kingdom, and our subjects are very happy and prosperous. Our defences are strong. As long as we have a wise guru like you to counsel and advise us, we cannot really go wrong, sire.”

Sage Vasishtha smiled, “But something is bothering you because I can see that, despite all the happy things you describe, you are still sad and worried. Let me know the root of your worry. Maybe I can offer a solution.”

Sudakshina spoke up, “I wonder why the Lord above has given us so much happiness and yet chooses to hold back the one gift that is desired deeply by all parents.”

“Aah! That explains your sadness. You feel you have everything, and yet something important is missing because you are childless.”

“Indeed, dear Guru. How can we be happy if we don’t have an heir to pass on the legacy of our kingdom? Is this the end of the Ikshvaku dynasty?” King Dilipa asked, his voice strained in despair. 

“Not at all. I assure you that the Ikshavaku Dynasty is far from dying. I know that extremely important events in this land will be shaped by the people born into your family. Let me see if I can find out the root cause of your current problem.”

Sage Vasistha Discovers Things

So saying, Sage Vasishtha closed his eyes and entered dhyana, through which he discovered the secret of the problem. He opened his eyes to find Dilipa and Sudakshina waiting patiently and eagerly for an answer.

The sage asked, “Remember, Dilipa, when you went to Indraloka on a visit?”

“Of course. I had gone there on Lord Indra’s invitation. It was one of the most exciting journeys I have ever undertaken.”

“Yes. Do you remember seeing Kamadhenu, the divine cow?”

“Not at all. If I had seen her, I would’ve taken her blessings.”

“Well, it seems like you were so excited about going to Indraloka and seeing the beauty of the heavens that you didn’t see her. She was sitting under a tree right outside the palace of Indra.”

“Oh, dear! That’s horrible.”

“Yes, it is. Because she thought you were ignoring her and cursed you. She said you will not bear any progeny until you realise nd repent for the mistake of ignoring you.”

The royal couple were horrified. Dilipa said, “I didn’t mean to intentionally insult anyone, least of all Kamadhenu, the divine granter of wishes and the mother of all cattle. I regret being carried away by my excitement. What can I do to get the curse lifted?”

Dilipa Becomes Nandini’s Caretaker and Guardian

“That’s not very hard. Kamadhenu’s daughter, Nandini, lives here in my ashram. Look after her for 21 days. Protect her while she goes into the forest to graze. Make sure she is safe, and no harm comes to her while she is under your care.”

“Can I meet Kamadhenu and seek her forgiveness too?”

“Taking care of Nandini while she is away at a yagna organised by Lord Varuna will be the path to your forgiveness. Do that, and your curse will be lifted.”

Dilipa sent his wife back to the palace, and he stayed back in Sage Vasishtha’s ashram to be Nandini’s protector and caretaker. He followed the cow everywhere she went, gave her a bath every day, cleaned the stable she slept in, and made sure all her needs were taken care of.

Nandini Lifts the Curse and Grants Boons

On the last day, Nandini ventured deep into the forest while Dilipa followed her patiently. She grazed under a big deodar tree. Suddenly, a huge lion attacked Nandini. Dilipa, aghast at the turn of events, pleaded with the lion, “Why do you want to harm this innocent animal? She has done no wrong. Leave her alone and hunt other wild animals in the forest. Moreover, killing an innocent cow is a sin.”

The lion replied, “I am guarding this deodar tree under the orders of Lord Shiva. As she came very close to the tree, I will not incur any sin by killing her.”

I have come so close to getting the curse lifted from my life. And this has to happen. The lion is right in his perception. But it is my duty to protect Nandini. I have only one option. Maybe this is the fate of the Ikshvaku clan.

Thinking thus, Dilipa said, “Let her go, and kill me instead. Nandini is under my protection. I must keep her safe, even if I have to be killed by you.” Dilipa came forward, offering himself to the lion in place of Nandini.

In an instant, the lion disappeared, and Nandini spoke in a loving voice, “That was just a test for you, King Dilipa. I wanted to see how far you would go to protect me. You are truly a man who keeps his promise at all costs. You are free from my mother’s curse. Go back to Ayodhya and continue to rule wisely and well. You will be blessed with a son soon.”

Taking Nandini’s blessings, King Dilipa returned home happily. A son, Raghu, was born to the royal couple shortly thereafter. Raghu had a son named Aja. Aja’s son was Dasharatha, and Dasharatha’s son was Rama, the Purushottaman.

Author’s Note:

This story of Nandini and King Dilipa appears in the Padma Purana.

This post is a part of BlogchatterA2Z Challenge 2026

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