Nitiprakasika (Critical Analysis)
by S. Anusha | 2016 | 34,012 words
This page relates ‘Dhanus (Bow)’ 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.
Dhanus (Bow)
[Full title: War weapons > Śāstras > Muktāyudhas > Dhanus (Bow)]
The Dhanus and Iṣu together form an inseparable unit; but Nītiprakāśikā terms the two as two different muktāyudhas.
(a) Manner of stringing the bow:
According to the rules of dhanurveda, the bow is to be bent with the left hand; by drawing the guṇa (string) upto the ear and holding the bow from behind placing the left thumb on the lastaka and the four fingers on its back. By fixing the eye on the aim and nothing else the arrow is to be released.
This will help one to protect oneself (IV. 11-4):
[...]
(b) Lakṣya[1] :
The targets which are thus attacked using the arrow are of different types. Also, the method of destroying each of these targets is also different.
Accordingly the target and the method of destroying them are (IV.15-7):
[...]
(1) Avicālya (Stationary)–breaking asunder the mountains.
(2) Sūkṣma (Subtle)–cutting of thread or twine or string which holds a bunch of flowers.
(3) Sukumāra (Light)–breaking of egg shells.
(4) Guru (Heavy) –felling huge bodies like elephants or demons
(c) Movements of Dhanus in hitting the target[2] :
Fourteen different movements are possible with the Dhanus while releasing the Iṣu, to hit the target. The meaning of the technical terms indicating the movements given in the text can be understood clearly with the help of the commentary Tattvavivṛti
Accordingly, the fourteen movements are (IV. 18-9):
[...]
(1) Pratisandhāna–aiming properly
(2) Ākarṣaṇa–twanging by pulling the string–[...]
(3) Vikarṣaṇa–ākarṣaṇa with the bow bent low–[...]
(4) Paryākarṣa–shaking the bow all around–[...]
(5) Anukarṣa–pulling bow while chasing enemy–[...]
(6) Maṇḍalīkaraṇa–drawing bow for shooting by moving in circular motion–[...]
(7) Pūraṇa–filling the directions with twanging noise–[...]
(8) Sphāraṇa–vibrating the Dhanus–[...]
(9) Dhūnana–covering the enemy by moving the hands differently–[...]
(10) Bhrāmaṇa–swinging it in such a way that the enemy is confused–[...]
(11) Āsannapāta–shooting nearby–[...]
(12) Dūrapāta–shooting afar
(13) Pṛṣṭapātanai–shooting backwards
(14) Madhyamapātana–shooting at medium range
(d) Varieties of Dhanus[3] :
The different varieties of the Dhanus elucidated are: (IV. 21-2):
[...]
(1) Śārṅgika–Tattvavivṛti says that this is the bow that is made of horns; it is bent in three places: [...]
(2) Vainava–According to Tattvavivṛti, this bow is made of Veṇu (bamboo); it is curved like a rainbow.
It is of four cubits in length–
[...]
Tattvavivṛti quotes Medinī here in support of the above words -
[...]
(3) Śastra–This bow is used to fling vaitastika bāṇas (arrows of 12 aṅgulas length). This bow has two strings and used to shoot pebbles. The length is of three hands and thickness is of two fingers.
(e) Armours for the archer:
The wrist guard and finger protective coverings (thimble) used by archers. In addition to these, the warriors also use the helmet, neck-guard and kavaca made of skin of godhā (alligator) (IV. 23, 25): [...]
(f) Stances of archer:
The archers take different positions in order to hit the target with accuracy. The various positions (See Appendix II)are (IV. 24): [...]
(1) Pratyālīḍha–Bending fully low to touch the ground –[...]
(2) Ālīḍha–Bending half by spreading the left leg forward–[...]
(3) Samapada–Standing with both the feet in an even position–[...]
(4) Viśāla–Spreading both legs equally apart–[...]
(5) Maṇḍala–Sitting with both legs folded together–[...]
(g) Movements of an archer on a chariot:
The movements possible for the archer fighting from a chariot are (IV. 26-7):
[...]
(1) Pradakṣiṇa–going clockwise, from right to left
(2) Śaighrya–going swiftly
(3) Apradakṣiṇa–reverse of Pradakṣiṇa
(4) Gatam–charging towards enemy
(5) Pratyāgata–returning (opposite of gatam)
(6) Maṇḍala–turning around
(7) Avasthiti -returning
(8) Miśraṇa–moving along enemy’s chariot
(9) Sphoṭana–breaking of enemy’s vyūha
(10) Vīthi–straight movement
The use of Dhanus and Iṣu as principal war weapons can be traced to the Vedas. The terms iṣukṛt and iṣukāra occurring in the Ṛgveda indicate that there was a regular profession of making arrows. The Kauśītaki Brāhmaṇa (IV.2) records that bow with three arrows was a dakṣiṇa in the Abhyudita sacrifice. Agnipurāṇa (245.5.6;7-10) talks of three varieties of bow–made of steel, horn or wood. It also explains in detail how to use the bow and arrow (249.9.19).
Rāmāyaṇa says that Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa when they went to forest, carried with them bow, arrows, quivers, swords, armour (II.31.29); also godhā and aṅgulitrāṇa (II. 99.23).
Raghuvaṃśa[4] mentions warriors fighting mostly with bows and arrows.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
[2]:
Vaśiṣṭha’s Dhanurveda Saṃhitā (II. 60) mentions about warriors striking targets from different places: [...] Agnipurāṇa (249. 37) also registers that warriors strike when on animal back, on foot or on chariot.
[3]:
Arthaśāstra (II.18.8) mentions six types of bows as–tāla, dārava, śārṅga, kārmuka, kodaṇḍa and drūṇa
[4]:
Raghuvaṃśa -III. 53, 57; VII. 38; IX. 12, 61