India as Known to Panini: A Study of the Cultural Material in the Ashtadhyayi c8.s1.10

c8.s1.10

KSHATRIYA. Pāṇini mentions the Kshatriya caste in connection with *gotras, janapadas* and *saṅghas*. For example the Kuru *gotra* occurred both amongst Brāhmaṇas (IV.1.151) and Kshatriyas (IV.1.172). If the father was a Brāhmaṇa, he and his young (*yuvan*) son were both called Kauravya, but if a Kshatriya they would be Kauravya and Kauravyāyaṇi (II.4. 58, *Kāśikā*). Andhaka and Vṛishṇi were Kshatriya *gotras*. As to Kshatriyas associated with the *janapadas*, they as original founders gave their name to the region where they settled down (*Janapada-śabdāt kshatriyād añ*, IV.1.168), the ruling families being designated as *janapadins* (IV.3.100); e.g. Pañchāla country named after the Pañchāla Kshatriyas; similarly Dardistan from Darads, Johiyāwār (Bahawalpur) from Yaudheyas, Mālva (in Ferozpur-Ludhiana) from ancient Mālavas (now called Malavais). Pāṇini specially mentions the Vāhīka *saṅghas* (V.3.114), some dominated by Brāhmaṇas as ruling caste (Gopālavas), others by Rājanyas, and called Rājanyaka (IV.2.53), most likely referring to the Rāṇas of the Hill-States. The majority were Kshatriya *saṅghas*, as Kshudrakas, Malavas (V.3.114, *Kāśikā*), Vṛikas (V.3.115), Yaudheyas (V.3.117). Distinguished Kshatriya heroes had become objects of religious *bhakti* (IV.3.99) before Pāṇini's time, referring to the emergence of a popular cult of hero-worship.