[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Reference works](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference) › [Vedic Index of Names and Subjects](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912) › v2.c4.s5.247 # Vedic Index of Names and Subjects v2.c4.s5.247 Vedic Index of Names and Subjects v2.c4.s5.247 - **Language:** English ### [v2.c4.s5.247](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v2.c4.s5.247) Rājanya is the regular term in Vedic literature¹ for a man of the royal family, probably including also those who were not actually members of that family, but were nobles, though it may have been originally restricted to members of the royal family. This, however, does not appear clearly from any passage; the term may originally have applied to all the nobles irrespective of kingly power. In the Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa² the Rājanya is different from the Rājaputra, who is literally a son of the king. The functions and place of the Rājanya are described under Kṣatriya, which expression later normally takes the place of Rājanya as a designation for the ruling class. His high place is shown by the fact that in the Taittirīya Saṃhitā³ he is ranked with the learned Brahmin and the Grāmaṇī (who was a Vaiśya) as having reached the height of prosperity (gata-śrī). - [Previous: v2.c4.s5.246](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v2.c4.s5.246) - [Next: v2.c4.s5.248](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v2.c4.s5.248) - [Up: v2.c4.s5](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v2.c4.s5) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v2.c4.s5.247](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v2.c4.s5.247) · Pramāṇa