Vedic Index of Names and Subjects v1.c3.s11.1102

v1.c3.s11.1102

The main duty of the Kṣatriya in the small states¹⁹ of the Vedic period was readiness for war. The bow is thus his special attribute,²⁰ just as the goad is that of the agriculturist; for the bow is the main weapon of the Veda. Whether the Kṣatriyas paid much attention to mental occupations is uncertain. In the latest stratum of the Brāhmaṇa literature there are references to learned princes like Janaka of Videha, who is said to have become a Brahmin (*brahmā*), apparently in the sense that he had the full knowledge which a Brahmin possessed.²¹ Other learned Kṣatriyas of this period were Pravāhaṇa Jaivali,²² Aśvapati Kaikeya,²³ and Ajātaśatru.²⁴ Garbe,²⁵ Grierson,²⁶ and others believe they are justified in holding the view that the Kṣatriyas developed a special philosophy of their own as opposed to Brahminism, which appears later as Bhakti, or Faith. On the other hand, there is clear evidence²⁷ that the opinion of Kṣatriyas on such topics were held in little respect, and it must be remembered that to attribute wisdom to a king was a delicate and effective piece of flattery. There are earlier references to royal sages (rājan-yarṣi),²⁸ but it is very doubtful if much stress can be laid on them, and none can be laid on the later tradition of Sāyaṇa.²⁹ Again, the Nirukta³⁰ gives a tradition relating how Devāpi, a king's son, became the Purohita of his younger brother Śamtanu; but it is very doubtful if the story can really be traced with Sieg³¹ in the Rigveda³² itself. In any case, the stories refer only to a few selected Kṣatriyas of high rank, while there is no evidence that the average Kṣatriya was concerned with intellectual pursuits. Nor is there any reference to Kṣatriyas engaging in agriculture or in trade or commerce. It may be assumed that the duties of administration and war were adequate to absorb his attention. On the other hand, we do hear of a Rājanya as a lute player and singer at the Aśvamedha or horse sacrifice.³³