Nitiprakasika (Critical Analysis)
by S. Anusha | 2016 | 34,012 words
This page relates ‘Ishu (Arrow)’ 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.
Iṣu (Arrow)
[Full title: War weapons > Śāstras > Muktāyudhas > Iṣu (Arrow)]
The commentary says that it is dārulaguḍa, made of wood and is soaked in oil to make it look dark–[...] It has two movements of Bhrāmaṇa (circular motion) and Kṣepaṇa (flinging motion); knowing these two movements, one should fight and rout the enemy (IV. 28-9):
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The Dhanurveda Saṃhitā of Vaśiṣṭha brings out the varieties in the arrows used. The nārāca are those that are made entirely out of iron and have five big feathers attached. This strong shaft can be used only by a skilled archer. Nālikā are arrows shot through tubular instruments.
These cover great distances from an altitude and are extremely useful in siegecraft (I. 73-4):
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Agnipurāṇa (245. 12) describes making of arrows. They are made either of iron or well-grained bamboo, of good vein and of golden colour. Arrows have puṃkha, for smooth flight and are oiled regularly to avoid rusting. It also has gold-tipped points.
Arthaśāstra (2. 18. 10-1) talks about five kinds of arrows namely, veṇu, śara, śalāka, daṇḍasāra and nārāca. Some have iron points for cutting, bone points for rending and wooden ones for piercing.
Mahābhārata talks of various types of arrows like the ardhacandra, vaitastika, vatsadanta, varāhakarṇa,vikarṇa and kṣrapra. Practise of inscribing names of famous heroes in the arrows was also in vogue. These arrows were shot in groups or in sequence. Usually, arrows were used to burn the enemy,set fire to battlefield or perplex the enemy.
Kālidāsa mentions about sharp, deep and strong shafts in his Śākuntalam [Śākuntala] (I.10).