Shloka 126
Varṇa-dharma and Rājadharma: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry and Bhīṣma’s Normative Outline (वर्णधर्म-राजधर्म-प्रश्नोत्तरम्)
ब्राह्मणानां क्षतत्राणात् तत:ः क्षत्रिय उच्यते । प्रथिता धर्मतश्नेयं पृथिवी बहुभि: स्मृता
brāhmaṇānāṃ kṣatatrāṇāt tataḥ kṣatriya ucyate | prathitā dharmataś ceyaṃ pṛthivī bahubhiḥ smṛtā ||
ビーシュマは語った。「婆羅門（brāhmaṇa）を害から守るがゆえに、彼らは『クシャトリヤ』（kṣatriya）と呼ばれる。さらに、この大地はダルマによって名声を得た—正しい統治によってその誉れが確立された—ゆえに、多くの人々はこれを『プリティヴィー』（Pṛthivī、名高き大地）として記憶するのである。」
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s legitimacy is grounded in protective duty: the kṣatriya is defined by shielding society—especially the custodians of learning and ritual—from harm, and by establishing the earth’s renown through dharmic governance rather than mere force.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma and statecraft, Bhīṣma explains the defining function of the kṣatriya class and links the fame of ‘Pṛthivī’ (the earth) to the spread and maintenance of dharma by righteous rulers.