Pasenadi or Prasenajit (; ;) was a 6th or 5th century BCE ruler of Kosala, where Shravasti was his capital. He succeeded after . As a king, he was a prominent or lay follower of Gautama Buddha, and built many Buddhist monasteries for the Buddha.
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 VÃÂsavakhattiyÃÂ, a girl, daughter of the chief of garland-makers for MahÃÂnÃÂma. From this marriage, he had a son, Viá¸Âà «á¸Âabha and a daughter, Princess Vajira, who was later married to his nephew, Ajatashatru (). He married his sister Kosala Devi to Bimbisara.
By the time of Pasenadi, Kosala had become the suzerain of the KÃÂlÃÂma tribal republic, and Pasenadi's realm maintained friendly relations with the powerful Licchavi tribe which lived to the east of his kingdom.
During Pasenadi's reign, a Mallaka named Bandhula who had received education in Taká¹£aà ÂilÃÂ, had offered his services as a general to the Kauà Âalya king so as to maintain the good relations between the Mallakas and Kosala. Later, Bandhula, along with his wife MallikÃÂ, violated the sacred tank of the Licchavikas, which resulted in armed hostilities between the Kauà Âalya and the Licchavikas. Bandhula was later treacherously murdered along with his sons by Pasenadi. In retaliation, some Mallakas helped Pasenadi's son Viá¸Âà «á¸Âabha usurp the throne of Kosala to avenge the death of Bandhula, after which Pasenadi fled from Kosala and died in front of the gates of the MÃÂgadhë capital of RÃÂjagaha.
The Puranas instead of mention the name of Ká¹£udraka as his successor.