Manava Dharmashastra 5.92

5.92

rāśabdo yadyapi kṣatriyajātau vartate tathāpīha aindraṃ sthānamupāsīnā iti kāraṇasyopādānājjanapadaśvaravacano lakṣṇayā vijñāyate | uttaraśloke nipuṇaṃ vakṣyāmaḥ | vratino vratacāriṇaḥ cāndrāyaṇādisthāśca | satriṇo gavāmayanikāḥ anyasminvā yajñe dīkṣitāḥ | tathā ca gautamaḥ “ṛtvigdīkṣitabrahmacāriṇāmiti"| atrārthavādaḥ | aindraṃ sthānamādhipatyaṃ padaṃ prajaiśvaryamupāsīnāḥ kurvāṇā rājāno; brahmatvaṃ prāptāḥ vratinaḥ satriṇaśca | aghadoṣamāśaucam | anye tu satatadānapravṛttān 'satriṇo' manyante | mukhyāyā'nuvṛttyā kratuviśeṣe vartate |

This taint of uncleanliness does not attach to Kings, or to those keeping a vow, or to the performers of sacrificial sessions; because they occupy the position of sovereigns and are ever of the nature of Brahman.—(92).

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):
Though the terra ‘rājan’, ‘king’, is denotative of the Kṣatriya-caste, yet, on account of the reason being stated in the words that ‘they occupy the position of sovereigns’, it follows that it indicates the ruler of countries. This we shall explain fully under the next verse.

‘Those who are keeping a vow;’—i.e., those who are observing a vow, and undergoing such penances as those of the ‘Cāndrāyaṇa’ and the like.

‘Performers of sacrificial sessions;’—i.e., those who are performing the ‘Gavāmayana’ sacrifice, or those who have been initiated for the other sacrifices also. Says Gautama (14.1)—‘For sacrificial priests, for one who has been initiated and for the Student.’

In support of this we have the laudatory statement (in the second line). ‘Position of Sovereigns;’—i.e., the kings—‘occupy,’—maintain,—The ‘position’—place—‘of sovereigns’—of rulers of men; and the other two—the keepers of vows and performers of sacrificial sessions—have attained the character of Brahman.

‘Taint of uncleanliness’— i.e., impurity.

Others have explained the term ‘Sattriṇaḥ’ to mean persons who are constantly making gifts. But in its primary denotation, the term refers to a particular form of sacrifice.—(92).