Shloka 1.16.8
पायसप्रादुर्भावः — The Manifestation of the Divine Payasa and the Avatara Resolution
इत्येतद्वचनं श्रुत्वा सुराणां विष्णुरात्मवान्।पितरं रोचयामास तदा दशरथं नृपम्।।।।
ity etad vacanaṃ śrutvā surāṇāṃ viṣṇur ātmavān | pitaraṃ rocayāmāsa tadā daśarathaṃ nṛpam || 1.16.8 ||
Hearing these words of the gods, self-possessed Viṣṇu then chose King Daśaratha to be his father.
Having heard the words of devatas, self-possessed Visnu chose king Dasaratha as his father.
Dharma is shown as alignment of divine purpose with human righteousness: the choice of a worthy father underscores that great missions rest upon ethical foundations in family and kingship.
After the gods request an incarnation, Viṣṇu decides the human lineage through which he will manifest—selecting Daśaratha.
Daśaratha’s worthiness as a righteous king (rāja-dharma) that makes him fit to host the divine incarnation in his lineage.