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Kalmashapada

कल्माषपाद

King of the Ikshvaku line. Also called Saudasa, Mitrasaha.

Kalmashapada, also called Saudasa, is an Ikshvaku king cursed by the sage Vasishtha to become a man-eating rakshasa. Valmiki tells Shatrughna his story at the hermitage on the night Lava and Kusha are born.

Updated 30 Oct 20261 source

RoleKing of the Ikshvaku line
ParentsRaghu
Appears inRamayana
GroupIkshvaku ancestors
KingdomAyodhya
First appearsUttara Kanda, Sarga 65

Who was Kalmashapada?

While hunting, Saudasa kills a rakshasa whose companion vows revenge. Disguised as Vasishtha, the rakshasa tricks the king into serving human flesh to the real sage, who curses him to become a man-eater for twelve years.

When Saudasa raises water to curse Vasishtha in return, his wife stops him, and he lets the water fall on his own feet, which turn spotted. From this he is called Kalmashapada, spotted foot.

In the Valmiki Ramayana

Kalmashapada appears in 1 sargas across 1 Kandas.

All 1 sargas

Kalmashapada's family

See the family

Often seen with Kalmashapada

More from Ikshvaku ancestors

See the group