Shloka 139
Śoka-śamana: Kṛṣṇa’s Consolation and Nārada’s Exempla to Sṛñjaya
Chapter 29
पृथुं वैन्यं प्रजा दृष्टवा रक्ता: स्मेति यदब्रुवन् । ततो राजेति नामास्यथ अनुरागादजायत
pṛthuṃ vainyaṃ prajā dṛṣṭvā raktāḥ sme iti yad abruvan | tato rājeti nāmāsyātha anurāgād ajāyata ||
لمّا أبصر الناسُ بِرِثو ڤاينْيَ، ابنَ ڤينا، قالوا كأنّهم بصوتٍ واحد: «إنّا لمتعلّقون به». ومن ذلك الودّ بعينه (anurāga)، ولأنّه كان يُبهِج الرعيّة ويستميل قلوبها، نشأ له اسم «راجا» (Rājā) أي الملك—مَن يُرضي الرعيّة ويُمسكها على الوفاء.
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king’s legitimacy is grounded in winning and sustaining the people’s goodwill through protection and welfare; ‘rājā’ is presented as one who delights/holds the subjects through righteous governance rather than mere power.
Vāyu explains that when the subjects saw Pṛthu (Vena’s son), they felt immediate attachment and voiced it; from this collective affection and his capacity to please and secure the people, he came to be called ‘Rājā’ (king).