Shloka 2
द्रोणेन दुर्योधनस्य कवचबन्धनम् — Drona’s Mantra-Bound Armor for Duryodhana
यत्नतः प्रथितेत्यूचु: सर्वानभिभवन् पृथु: । क्षतान्नस्त्रास्यते सर्वानित्येवं क्षत्त्रियोड$भवत्,“ये समस्त शत्रुओंको पराजित करके अपने प्रयत्नसे प्रथित (विख्यात) होंगेट--ऐसा महर्षियोंने कहा था। इसलिये वे “पृथु” कहलाये। ऋषियोंने यह भी कहा कि “ये क्षतसे हमारा त्राण करेंगे", इसलिये वे क्षत्रिय” इस सार्थक नामसे प्रसिद्ध हुए
yatnataḥ prathiteti ūcuḥ sarvān abhibhavan pṛthuḥ | kṣatān nas trāsyate sarvān ity evaṃ kṣattriyo 'bhavat ||
Narada said: “The sages declared, ‘By his own effort he will become renowned, overcoming all.’ Therefore he came to be known as Pṛthu (‘the famed one’). They also said, ‘He will protect us all from harm and injury (kṣata),’ and thus he became known by the meaningful title ‘Kṣatriya’—the protector from injury.”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse links rightful kingship to two ideals: personal effort that earns renown through overcoming adversaries, and the ethical duty of protection—defending people from injury. The title ‘kṣatriya’ is presented as meaningful because it implies safeguarding others from harm.
Nārada reports what sages proclaimed about a ruler: he would become famous by his exertion and by subduing all opponents, hence the name Pṛthu; and because he would protect people from ‘kṣata’ (injury), he is called ‘kṣatriya.’ The passage functions as an etymological and moral explanation of royal titles.