Nitiprakasika (Critical Analysis)
by S. Anusha | 2016 | 34,012 words
This page relates 鈥楢stara (Boomerang)鈥� of the study on the Nitiprakasika by Vaisampayana which deals primarily with with Dhanurveda, i.e., the science of war, weapons and military strategies of ancient Indian society. It further contains details on Niti-shastra, i.e., the science of politics and state administration but most verses of the Nitiprakashika deal with the classification and description of different varieties of weapons, based on the four groups of Mukta, Amukta, Muktamukta and Mantramukta.
Go directly to: Footnotes.
膧蝉迟补谤补 (Boomerang)
[Full title: War weapons > 艢腻蝉迟谤补蝉 > Amukt膩yudhas > 膧蝉迟补谤补 (Boomerang)]
From the description given in the text and from the clear evidences he had collected Oppert considers 膧蝉迟补谤补 as bumarang. He categorically states[1] that bumarang is not a weapon peculiar to Australia, but is well-known in many parts of India especially Tamil Nadu. From the samples of bumarang he had collected, he says that the length of the weapon is never the same.
罢补迟迟惫补惫颈惫峁泃颈 calls it as a sort of big 补峁卥耻艣补 that can tear asunder the enemy:
[...]
The associated movements are (V. 21):
(a) 叠丑谤腻尘补峁嘺 -rotating motion (whirling)
(b) 碍补谤峁峁嘺 - drawing or dragging
(c) 罢谤辞峁璦苍补 - splitting asunder
[...]
On the movement of the weapon, Oppert adds[2] that when thrown, a whirling motion is imparted to the weapon which causes it to return to the place from which it was thrown.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
On the weapons, army organization and Political maxims of the Ancient Hindus, p. 18-9
[2]:
. Loc.cit