Shloka 3
द्रोणेन दुर्योधनस्य कवचबन्धनम् — Drona’s Mantra-Bound Armor for Duryodhana
पृथुं वैन्यं प्रजा दृष्टवा रक्ता: स्मेति यदब्रुवन् । ततो राजेति नामास्थ अनुरागादजायत,वेनकुमार पृथुकोी देखकर प्रजाने कहा, हम इनमें अनुरक्त हैं। इसलिये उस प्रजारंजनजनित अनुरागके कारण उनका नाम 'राजा' हुआ
Pṛthuṁ vainyaṁ prajā dṛṣṭvā raktāḥ sme iti yad abruvan | tato rājeti nāmāsthān anurāgād ajāyata ||
Nārada said: “When the people beheld Pṛthu, son of Vena, they exclaimed, ‘We are devotedly attached to him!’ From that very affection—born of his power to delight and win the hearts of the subjects—there arose for him the name ‘Rājā’ (king), the one who pleases and holds the people in loyal love.”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s legitimacy is grounded in the willing affection and trust of the subjects: the true ‘rājā’ is one who wins hearts by protecting and delighting the people, not merely by force or birth.
Nārada explains how Pṛthu, Vena’s son, was received by the people with spontaneous devotion; from this public affection and approval, his royal title ‘Rājā’ became established.