Part 9.4: Weapons of the War

[Full title: Arms, Army and Warfare (4): Weapons of the War]

In the Harṣacarita, Bāṇa describes various types of weapons used in war. On Harṣa’s army expedition, the king first of all anointed his weapons through the worship.^[1] The term āyudha^[2] and śastra^[3] are mentioned to refer to weapons. These are as discussed below:

1 Dhanuṣa (the Bow):

The warriors were equipped with the bows (dhanuṣa) and arrows (bāṇa). The bow was considered the highly appreciated weapon. From the words of messenger Haṃsavega, it is known that this weapon reached a long distance very swiftly.^[4] Bāṇa says that king Harṣa was an expert in archery like Droṇa and his son Aśvathāmā.^[5] Various terms are used to mean bow such as—dhanu^[6] or dhanuṣa,^[7] kodaṇḍa.^[8] Terms like—bāṇa,^[9] śara,^[10] cāpa,^[11] vikarṇa (another kind of arrow),^[12] bhalla (a crescent-shaped arrow),^[13] śilīmukha also suggest the arrow as is mentioned in the Harṣacarita. Guṇa^[14] and bhallī^[15] were used for the bow-string and quiver respectively. Bāṇabhaṭṭa mentions that hunter Brāghraketu’s quivers were always filled up with the arrows.^[16] In the Ṛgveda, bows and arrows are depicted as symbols of all weapons and missiles.^[17] Prince Harṣa and Rājyavardhana exercised with this weapon in their childhood.^[18] In 7^th century, the bow was the chief wealth in battle for the powerful; which is known from the words of Siṃhanāda, the commander-inchief of Harṣa.^[19]

2 Swords and Shield:

Swords were used for cutting piercing, thrusting and inflicting a bow or encouraging or leading the warriors.^[20] To indicate the sword Bāṇa uses the term as—kṛpāṇa^[21] and kharga.^[22] Bāṇa says that among all king Harṣa’s favourite weapon was kṛpāṇa, as he showed affection to it.^[23] He also mentions that Vidyādharas always carried swords.^[24] The ātavikasāmanta carried a dagger hanging from his waist.^[25] During the ancient time, it was believed that, the fame (śrī or lakṣmī) played only on swords.^[26] A soldier had to be well aware of all kinds of movement with sword and shield before coming to actual bows. Shields were used by the warriors in their defense. Bāṇa mentions that the warrior (cāṭabhaṭa) used kārdaraṅga i.e., shields of various colours.^[27] P. V. Kane comments-“kārdaraṅga seems to be the name of a country. kārdaraṅgacarmaṇam of kārdaraṅga shields.”^[28] Again, Bāṇa compares the strength of sword with rains (dhārāsāra), as it was capable of destroying the lives of all.^[29] He also mentions niṃstriśa^[30] (i.e., a sword) which is longer than 30 finger-breadths^[31] and which was carried by prince Rājyavardhana.

3 Javelins:

Bāṇa describes that bundles of javelins (arrows) were encased in quiver^[32] when the army set out for mission. The quiver was called tūṇa or bhastrābharaṇa^[33] or nalaka.

According to Wilson—

“bhiṇḍipāla means a short arrow thrown from the hand.”^[34]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

..daṇḍayātrālagne…prathamaviliptāyudho…, Harṣacarita,VII.p.108

[2]:

Ibid.

[3]:

Ibid.,p.35

[4]:

….visarjitasyodvegaṃ brajataḥ, Ibid.,VII. p.120

[5]:

droṇaccāpalālasam, guruputrādamoghamārgaṇam, Ibid.,II. p.35

[6]:

Ibid., p.66

[7]:

Ibid.,p.120

[8]:

Ibid., p.125

[9]:

Ibid., p.120

[10]:

Ibid.

[11]:

Ibid.,p.125

[12]:

Ibid.

[13]:

Ibid., p.74

[14]:

Ibid., p.120

[15]:

Ibid., p.125

[16]:

..bhallīprāyaprabhūtaśarabhṛtā.., Ibid.

[17]:

Ṛgveda, VI.75

[18]:

..yogyakāleṣu dhirairdhanubhirabhyaṇo……vālapantau…., Harṣacarita,IV.p.66

[19]:

manasvināṃ hi pradhanapradhānadhane dhanuṣi dhriyamāṇe…., Ibid.,VI.p.100

[20]:

The Agnipurāṇa,252.17

[21]:

Harṣacarita, p.100,125

[22]:

Ibid.,p.54

[23]:

..snehadṛṣtimiṣṭe pātayantam, Ibid.,II. p.32

[24]:

khargi ca…… vidyādharatvam, Ibid.,VII. p.110

[25]:

…kṛpāṇyā karālitaviśaṃkatakaṭipradeśam, Ibid.,VIII. p.125

[26]:

kṛpāṇe….śrīsamutthānasya…, Ibid.,VI.p.100

[27]:

puraścancaccāmarakirmīrakārdaraṇgacarmamaṇḍalamaṇḍano….cārabhaṭabharitabhūvanān-taraiḥ, Ibid.

[28]:

Ibid., p.564

[29]:

lokavināśāya prakāśitadhārāsāraṃ ……patitam, Ibid.,III. p.48

[30]:

Ibid.,VI.p.94

[31]:

Ibid.,p.498

[32]:

…bhastrābharaṇabhindipālapulikaiḥ, Ibid.,VII. p.110

[33]:

Ibid.

[34]:

Sanskrit English Dictionary, p.531