Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 175
ततो राजेति शब्दोऽथ पृथिव्यां रंजनादभूत् । स राज्यं प्राप्य वैन्यस्तु चिंतयामास पार्थिवः
tato rājeti śabdo'tha pṛthivyāṃ raṃjanādabhūt | sa rājyaṃ prāpya vainyastu ciṃtayāmāsa pārthivaḥ
Thereafter, on earth the very word “rājā” (king) arose from the act of pleasing and gladdening the people. And Vainya, having attained sovereignty, began to reflect deeply as a ruler.
Narrator (Purāṇic narration; likely Sūta/Lomaharṣaṇa in frame)
Tirtha: प्रभासक्षेत्र
Type: kshetra
Listener: शौनकादयः
Scene: वैन्यः एकान्ते उपविष्टः, हस्ते राजदण्ड-चिह्नं, चिन्तामग्नः; पृष्ठे लेख्य-फलक/मन्त्र-पुस्तक-रूपेण ‘राजा-शब्द-व्युत्पत्ति’ संकेतः।
FAQs
True kingship is defined by dharma: a ruler is ‘rājā’ because he brings well-being and satisfaction to the people.
The broader setting is the Prabhāsa-kṣetra Māhātmya, though this verse itself focuses on rājadharma rather than a particular tīrtha rite.
No specific ritual is prescribed in this verse; it introduces the ethical foundation of kingship.
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