Pasenadi (Sanskrit: Prasenajit) (c. 6th century BCE) was an Aikṣvāka dynasty ruler of Kosala. Sāvatthī was his capital. He succeeded after Sanjaya Mahākosala. He was a prominent Upāsaka (lay follower) of Gautama Buddha, and built many Buddhist monasteries for the Buddha.
Life
Pasenadi studied in Taxila in his early life. He was the king of Kosala (modern Oudh or Awadh). His first queen was a Magadhan princess, a sister of king Bimbisara. His second and chief queen was Mallika, a Sākya slave girl, daughter of the chief of garland-makers for Mahānāma. From this marriage, he had a son, Viḍūḍabha and a daughter, Princess Vajira, who was later married to Ajātaśatru (Pāli: Ajātasattu).
He married his sister Kosala Devi to Bimbisara.
Once, while he was away from his capital Shravasti, his minister Dīgha Chārāyana placed his son Viḍūḍabha on the throne. He went to Magadha to seek help from Ajātaśatru in order to regain his throne. But before being able to meet him, Pasenadi died of exposure outside the gates of Rājagṛha (Pāli: Rājagaha). He was succeeded by his son Vidudabha. The Puranas instead of Viḍūḍabha mention the name of Kṣudraka as his successor.