Dilipa in
Hindu mythology is said to have been one of the most righteous and chivalrous emperors that the
Solar Dynasty or the
Ikshvaku dynasty, had ever produced. He was childless for a long time. In the matter of begetting an heir, he took the advice of
Vasishta. The sage divined his condition and told him that, once on the way back to earth after fighting a war on the side of the gods, Dilipa failed to notice the divine cow
Kamadhenu on his way and passed without paying his respects to her. Thereby he incurred the anger of the cow, who cursed the king to go childless. To negate the ill-effects of the curse, the king was advised to worship the divine cow
Nandini who was the daughter of
Kamadhenu, and thereby to earn her goodwill.
