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
त्यानंतर पृथ्वीवर प्रजेला रंजविण्यामुळेच ‘राजा’ हा शब्द प्रचलित झाला. आणि वैन्य हा पार्थिव, राज्य प्राप्त करून, गंभीर विचार करू लागला.
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.