Vedic Index of Names and Subjects v1.c3.s11.1088

v1.c3.s11.1088

It is impossible to say exactly what persons would be included in the term Kṣatriya. That it covered the royal house and the various branches of the royal family may be regarded as certain. It, no doubt, also included the nobles and their families: this would explain the occasional opposition of Rājanya and Kṣatriya, as in the Aitareya Brāhmaṇa,⁸ where a Rājanya asks a Kṣatriya for a place for sacrifice (*deva-yajana*). Thus, when strictly applied, Kṣatriya would have a wider denotation than Rājanya. As a rule, however, the two expressions are identical, and both are used as evidence in what follows. That Kṣatriya ever included the mere fighting man has not been proved: in the Rigveda⁹ and later¹⁰ others than Kṣatriyas regularly fought; but possibly if the nobles had retinues as the kings had, Kṣatriya would embrace those retainers who had military functions. The term did not apply to all members of the royal entourage; for example, the Grāmaṇī was usually a Vaiśya.