Overview
Kshatriya (Sanskrit: क्षत्रिय, romanised: Kṣatriya) is one of the four varnas (social orders, sometimes referred to as castes) of traditional Hindu society. The term derives from the Sanskrit kṣatra, meaning "rule" or "authority", and the varna is associated with the warrior aristocracy. Members of this varna are also referred to as Rajanya.
The Sanskrit term kṣatriyaḥ appears in the context of later Vedic society, in which members were organised into four classes: Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shudra. Within this scheme, the Kshatriya was traditionally identified with functions of governance, protection and martial duty.
As part of the broader varna framework described in Hindu textual tradition, the Kshatriya occupies a position alongside the Brahmin (associated with priestly and scholarly roles), the Vaishya (associated with trade, agriculture and pastoral activity) and the Shudra (associated with service occupations). The classification is articulated in Vedic and later Sanskrit literature, where it forms part of the social and ritual order of ancient Indian society.