Rājā and Rājan [cf. Vedic rājā, n-stem. To root °reg, as in Latin rego (to lead, di-rect, cf. in meaning Greek ἡγεμύν: see etymology under uju. Cf. Old-Irish rī king, Gallic Catu-rīx battle king, Goth reiks = Old High German rīhhi = rich or German reich. Besides we have °reig in Anglo-Saxon rāēcrācean = reach; German reichen. — Dhātup only knows of one root rāj in meaning "ditti" i.e. splendour] king, a ruling potentate. The definition at Vin III 222 is "yo koci rajjaṃ kāreti." The fanciful etymology at D III 93 = Vism 419 is "dhammena pare rañjetī ti rājā" i.e. he gladdens others with his righteousness. — At the latter passage the origin of kingly government is given as the third stage in the constitution of a people, the 2 preceding being mahā-sammata (general consent) and khattiya (the land aristocrats). Cases. We find 3 systems of cases for the original Sanskrit forms, viz. the contracted, the diæretic and (in the plural) a new formation with -ū-. Thus genitive and dative singular rañño [Sanskrit rājñaḥ] Vin III 107; IV 157; Ja II 378; III 5; Vv 74 4 ; and rājino Snp 299, 415; Thig 463; Ja IV 495; Mhv 2, 14; instrumental singular raññā Vin III 43; Ja V 444; Dhp-a I 164; Pv-a 22; Vibh-a 106; and rājinā [Sanskrit rajña] Mhv 6, 2; accusative singular rājānaṃ Vin IV 157; locative raññe Pv-a 76; vocative rāja Snp 422, 423. plural nominative rājāno A I 68; genitive dative raññaṃ [Sanskrit rājñaṃ] D II 87; Mhv 18, 32; and rājūnaṃ Vin I 228; Ud 11; Ja II 104; III 487; Pj II 484; Pv-a 101, 133; instrumental raññāhi A I 279 rājūhi Ud 41; M II 120; Ja I 179; III 45; Mhv 5, 80; 8, 21; and rājubhi D II 258. Cf. Geiger, Pāli Grammar §92.1. 1. rājā is a term of sovereignty. The term rājā as used in Buddhist India does not admit of a uniform interpretation and translation. It is primarily an appellative (or title) of a khattiya, and often the two are used promiscuously. Besides, it has a far wider sphere of meaning than we convey by any translation like "king" or even "sovereign," or "prince." We find it used as a designation of "king" in the sense of an elected (crowned) monarch or monarch by succession, but also in the meaning of a distinguished nobleman, or a local chieftain, or a prince with various attributes characterizing his position according to special functions. From this we get the following scheme: (a) [based on mythological views: the king as representing the deity, cf. deva = king. Note that rājā never takes the place of deva in the meaning king, but that mahārāja is used in vocative equivalent to deva] a world-king, overlord, a so-called cakkavatti rājā. This is an office (as "Universal King") peculiar to the Mahāpurisa or the (mythological) "Great Man," who may become either the Saviour of men in the religious sense, a Sammā-sambuddha, or a just ruler of the earth in the worldly sense, a King of Righteousness. These are the 2 gatis of such a being, as described at various places of the canon (e.g. Snp page 106; Snp 1002, 1003; D III 142; A I 76). His power is absolute, and is described in the standard phrase "c. dhammiko dhamma-rājā cāturanto vijitāvī janapada-tthāvariya-ppatto satta-ratana-samannāgato," e.g. D III 59. Dhammapāla gives the dignity of a cakkavatti as the first of the "human sovereign powers" (Pv-a 117). The four iddhi's of a c. are given (quite crudely) at M III 176: he is beautiful, lives longer than others, is of a {510} healthier constitution than others, he is beloved by the brahmins and householders. Other qualities: how his remains should be treated = D II 141; deserves a thūpa D II 142 f.; his four qualities D II 145 (the 4 assemblies of khattiyas, brāhmaṇas, gahapatis and samaṇas are pleased with him). See under cakkavatti and ratana. — In a similar sense the term dhamma-rājā is used as epithet of the Buddha Snp 554 (rājāham asmi dh.-r. anuttaro); Ja I 262; and a reflection of the higher sphere is seen in the title of politeness (only used in vocative) mahārāja, e.g. Snp 416 (addressed to Bimbisāra) Pv-a 22 (the same); Ja VI 515. (b) [in a larger constitutional state] the crowned (muddhāvasitta) monarch (i.e. khattiya) as the head of the principality or kingdom. The definition of this (general) rājā at Nidd II §542 is significant of the idea of a king prevalent in early Buddhist times. It is: "khattiyo muddhābhisitto vijita-saṅgāmo nihata-paccāmitto laddhādhippāyo paripuṇṇa-koṭthāgāro," i.e. "a crowned noble, victorious in battle, slaying his foes, fulfilling his desires, having his storehouses full." This king is "the top of men" (mukhaṃ manussānaṃ) Vin I 246 = Snp 568. Cf. D I 7; Snp 46 (raṭṭhaṃ vijitam pahāya); Ja V 448 and passim . See also below 3. 4 and 6. — In similes: see JPTS 1907, 128; and cf. Vism 152 (r. va saddhantagato), 336 (wishing to become an artisan). Here belongs the title of the king of the devas (Sakka) "deva-rājā," e.g. Dhp-a III 269, 441; Pv-a 62. (c) [in an oligarchic sense] member of a kula of khattiyas, e.g. the kumāras of the Sakiyans and Koliyans are all called rājāno of the rājakulānaṃ in Ja V 413 f., or at least the heads of those kulas. Cf. Buddhist India page 19. (d) [in a smaller, autocratic state] a chieftain, prince, ruler; usually (collectively) as a group: rājāno, thus indicating their lesser importance, e.g. A V 22 (kuḍḍa-rājāno rañño cakkavattissa anuyuttā bhavanti: so read for anuyantā); Snp 553 (bhoja° similar to rāja-bhoggā or bhogiyā as given at Pj II 453); A II 74 f. (dhammikā and a°); Ja IV 495. Similarly at Vin I 228 we find the division into the 3 ranks: mahesakkhā rājāno, majjhimā r., nīcā r. Here also belongs the designation of the 4 lokapālā (or Guardians of the World) at cattāro mahā-rājāno, the mahā° being added for sake of politeness (cf. Note A on mahā), e.g. A IV 242. See also paṭirājā and cf. below 4 c. (e) A wider range of meaning is attached to several sub-divisions (with rājā or without): officials and men who occasionally take the place of the king (royal functionaries), but are by public opinion considered almost equal to the king. Here belongs the definition of what is termed "rājāno" (plural like d) at Vin III 47, viz. rājā, padesa-rājā, maṇḍalikā, antarabhogikā, akkhadassā, mahāmattā, ye vā pana chejjabhejjaṃ anusāsanti (i.e. those who have juridical power). See also below 4 b, and °putta, °bhogga [and other compounds]. 2. It would fill a separate book, if we were to give a full monograph of kingship in and after the Buddha's time; we therefore content ourselves with a few principal remarks. The office of king was hereditary: kula-santakaṃ rajjaṃ Ja I 395; II 116; IV 124; but we sometimes read of a king being elected with great pomp: Ja I 470; Pv-a 74. He had the political and military power in his hand, also the jurisdiction, although in this he is often represented by the mahāmatta, the active head of the state. His 10 duties are {569} mentioned at several places (see below under °dhammā). Others are mentioned e.g. at D I 135, where it is said he gives food and seed-corn to the farmer, capital to the trader, wages to the people in government service. His qualifications are eightfold (see D I 137): well-born ("gentleman," khattiya), handsome, wealthy, powerful (with his army), a believer, learned, clever, intelligent. His wealth is proverbial and is characterized in a stock phrase, which is also used of other ranks, like seṭṭhi's and brāhmaṇa's, viz. "aḍḍha mahaddhana mahābhoga pahūta-jātarūpa-rajata pahūta-vittūpakaraṇa pahūtadhana-dhañña paripuṇṇa-kosa-koṭṭhāgāra," e.g. D I 134. For a late description of a king's quality and distinction see Miln 226, 227. — His disciplinary authority is emphasized; he spares no tortures in punishing adversaries or malefactors, especially the cora (see below 4 c). A summary example of these punishments inflicted on criminals is the long passage illustrating dukkha (bodily pain) at Nidd II §304 III; cf. M III 163 (here also on a cora). 3. The king (rājā or khattiya) in the popular opinion, as reflected in language, heads several lists, which have often been taken as enumerating "castes," but which are simply inclusive statements of various prominent ranks as playing a role in the social life of the state, and which were formulated according to different occasions. Thus some show a more political, some a more religious aspect. E.g. khattiya amacca brāhmaṇa gahapati D I 136; rājā brāhmaṇa gahapatika A I 68, where another formula has khattiya br. g. A I 66; Ja I 217; and the following with an intermediate "rank" (something like "royalty," "the royal household") between the king and the brahmins: rājā rājaputtā brāhmaṇā gahapatikā negama-jānapadā A II 74 f.; rājāno rāja-mahāmattā khattiyā br., gah., titthiyā D III 44 (translation D.B. too weak "rājas and their officials"); rājā rājabhogga br., gah. Vin III 221. 4. Various aspects illustrating the position of the king in relation to other prominent groups of the court or populace: (a) rājā and khattiya. All kings were khattiyas. The kh. is a noble κατ'ἐξοχήν (cf. Greek ἡγεμών) as seen from definition jāti-khattiya at Pj II 453 and various contexts. Already in the R̥V the kṣatriya is a person belonging to a royal family ( R̥V X 109, 3), and rājanya is an epithet of kṣatriya (see Zimmer, Altindisches Leben 213). — rājā khattiyo muddhāvassito "a crowned king" D I 69; III 61 f.; Vin IV 160; A I 106 f.; II 207 (contrasted with brāhmaṇa mahāsāla); III 299 (if lazy, he is not liked by the people); M III 172 f. (how he becomes a cakkavatti through the appearance of the cakka-ratana). — Without muddhāvasitta: rājāno khattiyā Dhp 294 = Nett 165. Cf. khattiyā bhoja-rājāno the khattiyas, the (noble or lesser?) kings (as followers of the cakkavatti) Snp 553 (see bhoja). At Ja VI 515. rājāno corresponds directly to khattiyā on page 517 (saṭṭhisahassa°); cf. (b) rājā and mahāmatta. The latter occupies the position of "Premier," but is a rank equal to the king, hence often called rājā himself: Vin III 47 where styled "akkhadassa mahāmatta." Otherwise he is always termed rāja-mahāmatta "royal minister" or "H.R.H. the Premier," e.g. Vin I 172; A I 279; Vin I 228 (also as Magadha-mahāmatta), and called himself a khattiya D III 44. (c) rājā and cora. A prominent figure in the affairs of State is the "robber-chief" (mahā-cora). The contrast-pair rajāno (so always plural) and cora is very frequent, and in this connection we have to think of rājāno as either smaller kings, knights or royals (royalists), i.e. officers of the kings or "the king's guards." Thus at Ja III 34 the commentary explanation as rāja-purisā. It is here used as a term of warning or frightening "get up, robber, so that the kings (alias "policemen") won't catch you": uṭṭhehi cora mā taṃ gahesuṃ rājāno. Other passages are e.g.: D I 7 (rāja-kathā and cora-kathā) = Vin I 188; M III 163 (rājāno coraṃ āgucāriṃ gahetvā); A I 68, 154; It 89 (rājābhinīta + cor°); and in sequence rājāno corā dhuttā (as being dangerous to the bhikkhus) at Vin I 150, 161. 5. On the question of kingship in Ancient India see Zimmer, Altind. Leben pages 162-175, 212 f.; Macdonell and Keith, Vedic Index II 210 f.; Fick, Soziale Gliederung 63-90; Foy, Die Königl. Gewalt nach den altind. Rechtsbüchern (Leipzig 1895); Rh.D, Buddhist India pages 1-16; E.W. Hopkins, "The social and military position of the ruling caste in Ancient India" in J.A.O.S. 13, 179 f.; Banerjea, Public Administration in Ancient India 1916, pages 63-93. 6. Kings mentioned by name [a very limited and casual list only, for detailed references. see DPPN ]: Ajātasattu; Udena (Dhp-a I 185); Okkāka; Dīghīti (of Kosala; Vin I 342); Parantapa (of Kosambī; Dhp-a I 164); Pasenadi (of Kosala; D I 87, 103; Vin IV 112, 157); Bimbisāra (of Magadha; Vin IV 116 f.; Snp 419); Bhaddiya; etc. 7. (figurative) king as sign of distinction ("princeps"), as the lion is called rājā migānaṃ Snp 72; Vism 650; the Himavant is pabbata-rājā A I {511} 152; III 44; and Gotama's horse Kaṇthaka is called assa-rājā Ja I 62 = Vv-a 314. Note: The compound form of rājā is rāja°. -aṅga royal mark, characteristic or qualification; king's property Vin I 219 (rājaṅgaṃ hatthī: the elephants belong to the king), cf. A I 244: assājāniyo rañño aṅgan t'eva saṅkhaṃ gacchati is called king's property; -aṅgaṇa royal court Pv-a 74; -antepura the royal harem A V 81, 82 (the 10 risks which a bhikkhu is running when visiting it for alms); -āgāra a king's (garden or pleasure-) house D I 7 (°ka); Sv I 42; -āṇatti king's permission Tikap 26 (in simile); -āṇā (1) the king's command Ja III 180; cf. Pv-a 217 "rañño āṇā";(2) the king's fine or punishment, i.e. a punishment inflicted by the king (cf. Fick, Soziale Gliederung page 74), synonymous with rāja-daṇḍa: Ja I 369, 433 (rājāṇaṃ karoti to inflict); II 197; III 18, 232, 351; IV 42; VI 18; Pv-a 242; -ānubhāva king's power, majesty, authority, pomp Ja IV 247; Pv-a 279; -ābhinīta brought by a king It 89 (+ corābhinīta); -ābhirājā "king of kings" Snp 553; As 20; -āmacca royal minister Ja V 444 (°majjhe); -āyatana name of a tree: "Kingstead tree," the royal tree (as residence of a king of fairies), Buchanania latifolia Vin I 3 f. (where Mvu III 303 reads kṣīrikā, i.e. milk-giving tree); Ja I 80; IV 361 f.; As 35; Vibh-a 433 (°cetiya); -iddhi royal power Pv-a 279; -isi a royal seer, a king who gives up his throne and becomes an ascetic (cf. Sanskrit rājarṣi, frequent in Mahābhārata and Rāmāyaṇa) Thag 1127 (read rāja-d-isi); It 21 (rājīsayo, with var vv.ll. not quite the same meaning); Ja VI 116, 124, 127, 518; Dhp-a IV 29. Kern, Toev. sub voce proposes reading rājīsi; -upaṭṭhāna attendance on the king, royal audience Vin I 269; Ja I 269, 349; III 119, 299; IV 63; -ūpabhoga fit for use by the king Miln 252; -uyyāna royal garden or pleasure ground Ja III 143; Mhv 15, 2; -orodhā a lady from the king's harem, a royal concubine Vin IV 261; -kakudha -bhaṇḍa an ensign of royalty (5: khagga, chatta, uṇhīsa, pādukā, vālavījanī) Dhp-a I 356. See under kakudha; -kathā talk about kings (as tiracchāna-kathā in disgrace), combined with cora-kathā (see above 4 c) D I 7; III 36, 54; Vin I 188; -kammika a royal official, one employed by the king Ja I 439; IV 169; -kuṭumba the king's property Ja I 439; -kuṇḍa a "crook of a king" Dhp-a III 56; -kumāra a (royal) prince (cf. khattiya-kumāra) Vin I 269; Ja III 122; Vibh-a 196 (in comparison); -kumbhakāra a "royal potter," i.e. a potter being "purveyor to the king" Ja V 290; -kula the king's court or palace A I 128; II 205; Vin IV 265; Ja II 301; Dhp-a II 44, 46; III 124; -khādāya puṭṭha at Snp 831 is according to Kern, Toev. to be read as rajakkhatāya ph. (from rajakkha). The old Niddesa, however, reads °khādāya and explanes the word (Nidd I 171) by rājabhojanīyena, i.e. the king's food, which is all right without being changed; -guṇa "virtue of a king" M I 446 (trick of a circus horse; {570} + rāja-vaṃsa); -daṇḍa punishment ordered by the king Pv-a 216, 217; -dāya a royal gift D I 127; Sv I 246; -dūta king's messenger Snp 411, 412; in meaning of "message," i.e. calling somebody to court, summons at Ja II 101, 305; -dhamma "king's rule," i.e. rule of governing, norm of kingship; usually given as a set of 10, which are enumerated at Ja III 274 as "dāna, sīla, pariccāga, ajjava, maddava, tapo, akkodha, avihiṃsā, khanti, avirodhana," i.e. alms-giving, morality, liberality, straightness, gentleness, self-restriction, non-anger, non-hurtfullness, forbearance non-opposition. These are referred to as dasa rāja-dhammā at Ja I 260, 399; II 400; III 320; V 119, 378; usually in phrase "dasa rāja-dhamme akopetvā dhammena rajjaṃ kāresi": he ruled in righteousness, not shaking the tenfold code of the king. Another set of 3 are mentioned at Ja V 112, viz. "vitathaṃ kodhaṃ hāsaṃ nivāraye" (explained as giving up musāvāda, kodha and adhamma-hāsa); -dhānī a royal city (usually combined with gāma and nigama) A I 159; II 33; III 108; Vin III 89; Ja V 453; Pv 13 18 ; -dhītā king's daughter, princess Ja I 207; Pv-a 74; -nivesana the king's abode, i.e. palace Dhp-a IV 92; -parisā royal assembly Vin II 296; -pīla (?) Dhp-a I 323; -putta literally "king's son," prince, one belonging to the royal clan (cf. similarly kulaputta), one of royal descent, Rājput Snp 455; Miln 331; Vibh-a 312, 319 (in simile); Pv-a 20. f. °puttī princess Ja IV 108; V 94;-purisa "king's man", only in plural; °purisā the men of the king, those in the king's service (as soldiers, body-guard, policeman etc.) Ja III 34; Vibh-a 80 (°ānubandha-corā), 109; -porisa (m. and neuter) servant of the king, collectively: king's service, those who devote themselves to government service D I 135; M I 85 = Nidd II §199; A IV 281, 286. See also porisa; -bali royal tax Ja I 354; -bhaṭa king's hireling or soldier Vin I 74, 88; Pj II 38 (in simile); -bhaya fear of the king('s punishment) Vism 121; -bhāga the king's share Ja II 378; -bhogga 1. royal, in the service of the king, in following phrases: rāja-bhoggaṃ raññā dinnaṃ rāja-dāyaṃ brahma-deyyaṃ D I 87, of a flourishing place. D.B. I 108 translation "with power over it as if he were king," and explains with: "where the king has proprietary rights." The commentary rather unmeaningly explains as "rāja-laddha" (Sv I 245). The BHS has a curious version of this phrase: "rājñā-agni-dattena brahmadeyyaṃ dattaṃ" (given by the king in the place of agni?) Divy 620. — Further at Vin III 221 in sequence rājā r.-bhogga, brāhmaṇa, gahapatika, where the commentary explains (on page 222) as "yo koci rañño bhatta-vetanāhāro." (We should be inclined to take this as No. 2.) — Thirdly, in stock phrase "rājaraha rājabhogga rañño aṅgan t'eva saṅkhaṃ gacchati," i.e. worthy of a king, imperial, he justifies the royal qualification, said of a thoroughbred horse at A I 244 = II 113; of a soldier (yodhājīva) at A I 284; of an elephant at Ja II 370 (where it is explained as "rāja paribhoga"). Also as "royal possessions" in general at Dhp-a I 312, 13. — Fick, Soziale Gliederung page 99 does not help much, he takes it as "king's official." 2. royal, of royal power, one entitled to the throne. Either as bhogga, bhogiya (Pj II 453) or (khattiyā) bhoja-rājāno (Snp 553). Thus at Vin III 221, where it takes the place of the usual khattiya "royal noble" and Snp 553, where it is combined (as bhoja rājano) with khattiyā. See also bhoja and cf. (antara) bhogika and rājañña. -mahāmatta king's prime minister (see above 4 b, to which add:) D III 44; A I 154, 252, 279; III 128; Vibh-a 312 (simile of 2), 340; -mālakāra royal gardener Ja V 292; -muddā the royal seal Dhp-a I 21; -muddikā the same Pj II 577; -ratha the king's chariot Dhp-a III 122; -rukkha "royal tree," Cathartocarpus fistula Vv-a 43; -vara the best king, famous king Vv 32 1 (= Sakka Vv-a 134); -vallabha the king's favourite, or overseer Mhv 37, 10; Vibh-a 501 (in simile); -vibhūti royal splendour or dignity Pv-a 216, 279; -haṃsa "royal swan," a sort of swan or flamingo Vism 650 (suvaṇṇa°, in simile).
<b> <c c="#a00149">Rājā</c> </b> <br>A Yakkha, one of the messengers of Kuvera. <c c="#3b6bd3">DN.iii.201</c> <br> <br> </deftext>
rājā 【梵】rājā 【滿】han 【蒙】khagan 【漢】帝
(masc, masc nom sg of rāja, atta group) king; sovereign; lord; ruler king; sovereign; lord Construction: √rāj + a + ā rāja + ā