Nitiprakasika (Critical Analysis)
by S. Anusha | 2016 | 34,012 words
This page relates 鈥楽amhara Weapons (2): Upasamhara-Astras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.
Sa峁僪膩ra Weapons (2): 鲍辫补蝉补峁僪腻谤补-Astras
[Full title: War weapons > Astras > 厂补峁僪腻谤补蝉 > 鲍辫补蝉补峁僪腻谤补-astras]
The text opens this section stating that the knowledge of these 耻辫补蝉补峁僪腻谤腻蝉迟谤补蝉 help in quelling the astras of the enemies (狈墨迟颈辫谤补办腻艣颈办腻 II. 28):
[...]
The commentator adds that the 苍颈辫腻迟补鈥撯赌�ca鈥� in the verse indicates that the astra when discharged with mantra gets the potency to comeback to the person who discharged it.
[...]
罢补迟迟惫补惫颈惫峁泃颈 further adds that the term 鲍辫补蝉补峁僪腻谤补 has to be understood as not dischargeable a second time; by this it is understood that these astras can be utilized only once.
[...]
Now, 狈墨迟颈辫谤补办腻艣颈办腻 II. 29-34 enlists the name of 鲍辫补蝉补峁僪腻谤腻蝉迟谤补蝉 as follows:
[...]
Very limited observations are made by the commentator in this section. They are:
(1) 厂补迟测补惫腻苍鈥搕丑别 true
(2) 厂补迟测补办墨谤迟颈鈥搕丑别 truly-famed
(3) Rabhasa鈥搕丑别 impetuous
(4) 顿丑峁涐梗峁璦鈥搕丑别 bold
(5) 笔谤补迟墨丑腻谤补鈥搕丑别 warding off
(6) 础惫腻峁卪耻办丑补鈥搕丑别 downfaced
(7) 笔补谤腻峁卪耻办丑补鈥搕丑别 averted face
(8) 顿丑峁涐笉丑补苍腻产丑补鈥搕丑别 weapon with firm navel
(9) 础濒补办峁补鈥搕丑别 imperceptible
(10) 尝补办峁补鈥搕丑别 perceptible
(11) 膧惫颈濒补鈥搕丑别 turbid; 罢补迟迟惫补惫颈惫峁泃颈 states that it has another name 鈥�Anila鈥欌赌�[...]
(12) 厂耻苍腻产丑补办补鈥搕丑别 weapon with good navel
(13) 顿补艣腻办峁鈥搕丑别 ten-eyed
(14) 艢补迟补惫补办迟谤补鈥搕丑别 hundred-mouthed
(15) 顿补艣补峁Ｄ玶蝉补鈥搕丑别 ten-headed
(16) 艢补迟辞诲补谤补鈥搕丑别 hundred-bellied
(17) 顿丑补谤尘补苍腻产丑补鈥搕丑别 weapon with the navel of right
(18) 惭补丑腻苍腻产丑补鈥搕丑别 big-navelled
(19) 顿耻苍诲耻苍腻产丑补鈥揹rum navelled[1]
(20) 狈腻产丑补办补鈥搕丑别 navelled
(21) 闯测辞迟颈峁鈥搕丑别 luminous
(22) Vimala鈥搕丑别 stainless
(23) 狈补颈谤腻蝉测补鈥搕丑别 discourager
(24) 碍峁浥沘苍补鈥搕丑别 emaciating
(25) Yogandhara鈥搕丑别 united
(26) Sanidra鈥搕丑别 sleeping
(27) Daitya鈥搕丑别 fiendish; the name does not mean that they are sons of Diti, says 罢补迟迟惫补惫颈惫峁泃颈鈥�[...]
(28) Pramathana鈥揷hurning missile[2]
(29) 厂腻谤肠颈尘腻濒颈鈥揼arland of energy
(30) 顿丑峁泃颈鈥搕丑别 supporting
(31) 惭腻濒颈鈥搕丑别 necklaced
(32) 痴峁泃迟颈尘腻苍鈥搕丑别 abiding
(33) Rucira鈥搕丑别 glittering
(34) 笔颈迟峁泍补鈥搕丑别 paternal
(35) Saumanasa鈥搕丑别 good-minded
(36) 痴颈诲丑奴迟补鈥搕丑别 vibrating
(37) Makara鈥搕丑别 monster
(39) Dhanarati鈥搕丑别 desire of wealth
(40) 顿丑腻苍测补鈥搕丑别 grain
(41) 碍腻尘补谤奴辫补办补鈥搕丑别 shape-assumer
(42) 闯峁涐箖产丑补办补鈥搕丑别 gaper
(43) 膧惫补谤补苍补鈥搕丑别 protecting
(44) Moha鈥搕丑别 fascinating
(45) 碍腻尘补谤耻肠颈鈥揻ollowing one鈥檚 own wishes
(46) 痴补谤耻峁嘺鈥搕丑别 missile of 痴补谤耻峁嘺
(47) Sarvadamana鈥搕丑别 all-subduer
(48) 厂补苍诲丑腻苍补鈥搕丑别 aimer
(49) 厂补谤惫补苍腻产丑补办补鈥搕丑别 missile of god of serpents
(50) Sarvamocana鈥揳nnihilator of all
It is noteworthy that the commenatator links the details given by the text about the origin of the astras (尘耻办迟腻尘耻办迟补蝉) given in the sarga I (verses 44-6) and the list of these astras given in sarga II (verses 22-41); thus he provides the reader with complete picture of these astras and their powers.
No description of these astras are given by the text as it had given in the case of 惭耻办迟腻测耻诲丑补蝉 and 础尘耻办迟腻测耻诲丑补蝉.
Taking note of this fact, the commentator correctly remarks (on verse 25) that one has to understand the effect of these astras from their etymological derivation:
[...]
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
[2]:
Text reads pramathaja but Oppert鈥檚 reading of pramathana is preferred.
[3]:
Text reads 办补谤补濒墨谤补; Urmi Shah makes note of the other reading 办补谤补惫墨谤补.