Shloka 139
Śoka-śamana: Kṛṣṇa’s Consolation and Nārada’s Exempla to Sṛñjaya
Chapter 29
पृथुं वैन्यं प्रजा दृष्टवा रक्ता: स्मेति यदब्रुवन् । ततो राजेति नामास्यथ अनुरागादजायत
pṛthuṃ vainyaṃ prajā dṛṣṭvā raktāḥ sme iti yad abruvan | tato rājeti nāmāsyātha anurāgād ajāyata ||
众民见到维那之子普利图（Pṛthu Vainya），仿佛同声说道：“我们心系于他。”正由此爱慕（anurāga），又因他能悦众、摄受百姓，遂为他生出“罗阇”（Rājā，王）之名——能使臣民欢悦并令其忠顺者。
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king’s legitimacy is grounded in winning and sustaining the people’s goodwill through protection and welfare; ‘rājā’ is presented as one who delights/holds the subjects through righteous governance rather than mere power.
Vāyu explains that when the subjects saw Pṛthu (Vena’s son), they felt immediate attachment and voiced it; from this collective affection and his capacity to please and secure the people, he came to be called ‘Rājā’ (king).