Shloka 7
Rājapurohita-lakṣaṇa and Purūravas–Vāyu Saṃvāda
Varṇa, Sovereignty, and Abhaya-dāna
अतः पृथिव्या यन्तारं क्षत्रियं दण्डधारिणम् | द्वितीयं वर्णमकरोत् प्रजानामनुगुप्तये
ataḥ pṛthivyā yantāraṃ kṣatriyaṃ daṇḍadhāriṇam | dvitīyaṃ varṇam akarot prajānām anuguptaye ||
Darum setzte Brahmā zur Regierung der Erde den Kṣatriya ein—den Träger des danda, des Strafstabes—als die zweite Ordnung und bestellte ihn zum Schutz und zur Bewahrung der Menschen.
पुरूरवा उवाच
Educational Q&A
Legitimate rulership is defined by protective responsibility: the Kṣatriya’s authority (daṇḍa) exists to restrain harm and safeguard the people, making governance an ethical duty rather than mere power.
Purūravas describes the institution of the Kṣatriya order as the second varṇa, appointed to govern the earth and protect subjects through the disciplined use of daṇḍa (lawful punishment).