Nitiprakasika (Critical Analysis)

by S. Anusha | 2016 | 34,012 words

This page relates ‘Weapons and War in Niti works’ 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.

Weapons and War in Nīti works

(i) Kauṭilya’s Arthaśāstra

Kauṭilya’s Arthaśāstra epitomizes governance (artha). It elaborates in various sections about the political, economic as well as judicial ideas, policies, concepts and issues.

(ii) Kāmandaka’s Nītisāra

Kāmandaka’s Nītisāra re-iterates the concepts of Kauṭilya’s Arthaśāstra. It effectively portrays political and military schemes. Śukranīti also records interesting details on similar lines.

(iii) Śukranīti

Śukranīti dedicates one section each of the fourth chapter to durga, rājakṛtyāni and sena. In these sections, subtle points regarding military science are recorded. The section on sena furnishes details on army composition, tips for the success of army, ethics of war, strategical considerations on and off the battle-field, training of the war-animals, divine and non-divine kind of weapons, foreign policy measures, battle-formations and the monetary benefits gained by the military personnel.

(iv) Vaśiṣṭha’s Dhanurveda

Vaśiṣṭha’s Dhanurveda is a directory on weapons, especially the dhanu and iṣu. It registers their details comprehensively and speaks about the manner in which the weapons are to be wielded.

(v) Mānasollāsa

Mānasollāsa (Abhilaṣitārthacintāmaṇi) -in the section on Śastra-vidyāvinoda speaks on the movements, manoeuvres of various weapons. The king usually exhibits his prowess in the khuralī for the general public. During this occasion, he wields a host of weapons and demonstrates his skill.

(vi) Śivatattvaratnākara

Śivatattvaratnākara also gives plenty of facts, nuances regarding war science. It talks at length about durga, bala, payment of military personnel, punishments for offenders, khaḍgalakṣaṇa[1], qualifications needed for the senāpati, aṅgarakṣakas, ṣāḍguṇya, bravery award and rewards, battlefields suitable to army divisions and vyūharacana. (V. 6. 46-60, 62-82; V. 9. 23-32, V. 15. 44-45, 54-55, 100-02; V. 11. 29-37, 45-47; V. 14. 1,3-38)

(vii) Rājanīti-ratnākara

Caṇḍeśvara’s Rājanīti-ratnākara furnishes information on military directives for the king and strategical considerations concerning war.

(viii) Nītivāyāmṛta

Somadevasurī’s Nītivāyāmṛta devotes chapters titled samuddeśa each to durga, bala, ṣāḍguṇya and yuddha explaining related concepts. (p. 198-201; 207-15; 311-43; 344-72)

(ix) Nītimayūkha

Bhaṭṭa Nīlakaṇṭha’s Nītimayūkha records absorbing points regarding encampments. It echoes the views of other Nīti texts with regard to qualifications of senāpati; types of battle-arrays and their composition and war-ethics (p. 60-61).

(x) Śārṅgadharapaddhatiḥ

Śārṅgadharapaddhatiḥ presents exhaustive information regarding dhanu,iṣu along with particulars for the knowledge of the dhanurdhara. It also supplies information on few astras, army units, vyūhas as well as moral code of conduct for war. (verses 1736-38, 42-48, 62-67, 69-100; 1801-11, 14; 1829-84; 1911-23, 35-36).

(xi) Sāmrājyalakṣmīpīṭhikā

Sāmrājyalakṣmīpīṭhikā, the emperor’s manual, allocates separate chapters to give details on forts (31. 7-27; 32. 2-8; 33. 1-16; 34. 1-22), daṇḍayātrā, different army corps, appointments of military recruits, different kinds of bows and arrows along with their practice and exercise. It finally enlightens about the armed crusade that can be undertaken against foreign nations (134. 4-33; 135. 4-56; 136. 1-71; 137. 1-122)

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Khaḍgalakṣaṇa, is an exclusive text published in Kavyamala series dealing with the sword.

Like what you read? Consider supporting this website: