02-10-2007, 10:46 PM
Another form of Raajaputra-taa for the Royal class is Raajaputra-tva in the same chapter in verse 21:
itas tvaM raajaputratvaad braahmaNyaM samavaapsyasi
gobraahmaNakrte praaNaan hutvaatmiiyaan raNaajire ||21||
In consequence of thy having saluted and worshipped me thou shalt rise higher, for, from the Kshatriya order thou shalt rise to the status of a Brahmana, if only thou castest off thy life-breaths on the field of battle for the sake of kine or Brahmanas.
A subtle note for the specialists here is that Raajaputra-tva is synonymous to the ancient word Raajan-ya while the synonym of BraahmaNa is rendered here as BraahmaN-ya. The two -an ending words Raajan and Brahman get the Vrddhi form with the -ya Pratyaya. The same chapter also uses the word BraahmaNa-tva.
The Karmadhaaraya dimension [(prominent) son of the royal (class)] as base can be seen in for instance:
b13.c119.v022
raajaputrasukhaM praapya rtuuMsh caivaaptadakShiNaan |
atha modiShyase svarge brahmabhuuto 'vyayaH sukhii ||
O prince, enjoying much felicity and performing many sacrifices with copious presents, thou shalt attain to heaven and transformed into eternal Brahma, thou wilt have perfect beatitude.
b07.c044.v027
cuutaaraamo yathaa bhagnaH pancavarShaphalopagaH |
raajaputrashataM tadvat saubhadreNaapatad dhatam ||vii.44.27||
Those hundred princes were slain and felled by Subhadra's son like a tope of five-year old mango-trees just on the point of bearing fruit (laid low by a tempest).
I believe that Raajaputra gives the Praakrta form raavata, also known in the later form Rawat.
Thus, it is crystal clear, thanks to Digvijay for the textplaces, that Rajput as name for the royal class is just a continuation of the ancient KShatriya/Raajaputra class. Some families disappeared (possibly with loss of status and profession), some did reappear through minor or subbranches here and there, but also new ones appeared on the scene.
itas tvaM raajaputratvaad braahmaNyaM samavaapsyasi
gobraahmaNakrte praaNaan hutvaatmiiyaan raNaajire ||21||
In consequence of thy having saluted and worshipped me thou shalt rise higher, for, from the Kshatriya order thou shalt rise to the status of a Brahmana, if only thou castest off thy life-breaths on the field of battle for the sake of kine or Brahmanas.
A subtle note for the specialists here is that Raajaputra-tva is synonymous to the ancient word Raajan-ya while the synonym of BraahmaNa is rendered here as BraahmaN-ya. The two -an ending words Raajan and Brahman get the Vrddhi form with the -ya Pratyaya. The same chapter also uses the word BraahmaNa-tva.
The Karmadhaaraya dimension [(prominent) son of the royal (class)] as base can be seen in for instance:
b13.c119.v022
raajaputrasukhaM praapya rtuuMsh caivaaptadakShiNaan |
atha modiShyase svarge brahmabhuuto 'vyayaH sukhii ||
O prince, enjoying much felicity and performing many sacrifices with copious presents, thou shalt attain to heaven and transformed into eternal Brahma, thou wilt have perfect beatitude.
b07.c044.v027
cuutaaraamo yathaa bhagnaH pancavarShaphalopagaH |
raajaputrashataM tadvat saubhadreNaapatad dhatam ||vii.44.27||
Those hundred princes were slain and felled by Subhadra's son like a tope of five-year old mango-trees just on the point of bearing fruit (laid low by a tempest).
I believe that Raajaputra gives the Praakrta form raavata, also known in the later form Rawat.
Thus, it is crystal clear, thanks to Digvijay for the textplaces, that Rajput as name for the royal class is just a continuation of the ancient KShatriya/Raajaputra class. Some families disappeared (possibly with loss of status and profession), some did reappear through minor or subbranches here and there, but also new ones appeared on the scene.