raññā

rāja

masc instr sg of rāja (noun); masc abl sg of rāja (noun)

raññā (masc): with a king; by the king
rāja (masc): king; sovereign; lord; ruler
rāja (masc): name of a daemon; lit. king

Built from

rāj- — root · rule, direct
From PIE *h₃erǵ-, expressing the sense of directing or putting in order. The concrete image is of straightening or guiding a course — hence royal sovereignty.

Etymology. From PIE *h₃erǵ- 'to direct, rule'. Cognates: Latin regō 'guide, rule' (hence rēx 'king', regnum 'kingdom'), English right (in sense of 'straight, proper'), Greek oregō 'stretch toward, rule'. The Pali form shows syncope of the medial vowel (rāja < *rāya-ja), a common Prakrit development. Sanskrit rājan- (nom. rāja) maintains the fuller stem.

Meanings from the Digital Pāḷi Dictionary; morphology and etymology by Claude.

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