Kshatriya
Topic: Society in Early India: Kinship, Varna-Jati, Women · NCERT: Class 12, Ch 3 "Kinship, Caste and Class - Early Societies"
Meaning
The Kshatriyas were the second of the four varnas in the Brahmanical order. The Dharmasutras and Dharmashastras gave them several duties: making war, protecting people, giving justice, studying the Vedas, having sacrifices performed, and making gifts. The rule books said that only Kshatriyas should be kings. In practice, many ruling families came from other backgrounds. This shows that power went to anyone who could gather support and resources.
Example
In the Mahabharata, the Kauravas and Pandavas were Kshatriya princes of the Kuru lineage. Real kings did not always fit this pattern. The Shungas and Kanvas were Brahmanas. The Satavahana king Gotami-puta Siri-Satakani called himself a "unique Brahmana" and the destroyer of Kshatriya pride.
Don't confuse with
- Rajput: a set of later warrior clans of medieval India. Kshatriya is the ancient varna category found in the Shastras.