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 ||
毗湿摩说道：“因为他们护持婆罗门（brāhmaṇa）免受伤害，所以称为‘刹帝利’（kṣatriya）。又因为此大地因法（dharma）而得以显扬——其名声由正义的治理所奠定——故为众人所忆念，称之为‘普利提毗’（Pṛthivī，著名之地）。”
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.