Shloka 7

Rājapurohita-lakṣaṇa and Purūravas–Vāyu Saṃvāda

Varṇa, Sovereignty, and Abhaya-dāna

Devanagari script

अतः पृथिव्या यन्तारं क्षत्रियं दण्डधारिणम्‌ | द्वितीयं वर्णमकरोत्‌ प्रजानामनुगुप्तये,तदनन्तर ब्रह्माजीने पृथ्वीपर शासन करनेवाले और दण्डधारणमें समर्थ दूसरे वर्ण क्षत्रियको प्रजाजनोंकी रक्षाके लिये नियुक्त किया

Transliteration

ataḥ pṛthivyā yantāraṃ kṣatriyaṃ daṇḍadhāriṇam | dvitīyaṃ varṇam akarot prajānām anuguptaye ||

Translation

Vì thế, để cai trị cõi đất, Phạm Thiên (Brahmā) đã lập giai cấp Sát-đế-lỵ (Kṣatriya)—người cầm trượng trừng phạt—làm đẳng cấp thứ hai, và bổ nhiệm họ để bảo hộ, che chở muôn dân.

Word by Word

अतःtherefore; hence

पृथिव्याःof the earth

यन्तारम्controller; restrainer; governor

क्षत्रियम्the Kshatriya (warrior-ruler)

दण्डधारिणम्bearing the staff/punitive rod

द्वितीयम्second

वर्णम्class; varna

अकरोत्made; created; appointed

प्रजानाम्of the subjects/creatures

अनुगुप्तयेfor protection; for safeguarding

Speaker

पुरूरवा उवाच

Characters & Entities

Purūravas

Kṣatriya

Pṛthivī (Earth)

Daṇḍa (rod of punishment/royal authority)

Brahmā (implied by context)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Legitimate rulership is defined by protective responsibility: the Kṣatriya’s authority (daṇḍa) exists to restrain harm and safeguard the people, making governance an ethical duty rather than mere power.

What is happening in the narrative?

Purūravas describes the institution of the Kṣatriya order as the second varṇa, appointed to govern the earth and protect subjects through the disciplined use of daṇḍa (lawful punishment).