Nitiprakasika (Critical Analysis)
by S. Anusha | 2016 | 34,012 words
This page relates ‘Shakti (Spear)’ 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.
Śakti (Spear)
[Full title: War weapons > Śāstras > Muktāyudhas > Śakti (Spear)]
This is identified with a spear. It is a fearsome weapon, which goes very far horizontally. It can break mountains; its use in war ensures victory. It is thrown using both the hands.
The six different horizontal movements possible with this weapon are (IV. 32ab, 34cd-35):
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(1) Tolana–this is a sort of warming up exercise prior to using the weapon.
(2) Bhrāmaṇa–circular motion
(3) Valgana–taking the weapon in hand and flinging it horizontally
(4) Nāmana–doing valganam in a bent posture
(5) Mocana–releasing the weapon
(6) Bhedana–piercing or splitting asunder
Tattvavivṛti adds explanation to the following words:
(1) Ugranakharā–the weapon is described as having iron thorns as its claws (V. 32cd)[1]
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(2) Bṛhatsaru–as of the measure of the fist holding a sword by citing Amarakośa:
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While the text merely enlists the six movements, it is the commentary which gives the explanation given above:
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Rāmāyaṇa classes śūla, parigha, śakti, tomara, prāsa, daṇḍa and triśūla as belonging to the category of spears. It makes a special note of Dūṣaṇa’s parigha, Rāvaṇa’s śakti and Kumbhakarṇa’s śūla. Dūṣaṇa’s parigha was like a mountain peak encircled with gold. It was encrusted with iron spikes. Rāvaṇa’s śakti that was used on Lakṣmaṇa had a boomerang property. It came back to Rāvaṇa’s chariot after knocking down Lakṣmaṇa unconscious. This was made by Maya using māyā. It had eight bells hanging from it. Initially, when Rāvaṇa used it on Vibhīṣana, Lakṣmaṇa rent it to pieces with his arrows.
In the Mahābhārata weapons like nārāca, prāsa, śakti, bhalla, tomara, parigha, kunta, śūla, śaṅku, daṇḍa, kampana, pratoda, śalākā and rathaśakti seem to fall under the broad category of spears. Among these nārāca–has sharpened edges with tassels of gold; prāsa–was a smaller than bhalla; śakti–had thick base sometimes entirely out of iron; bhalla–has a curved tip and usually kept in quivers; tomara–has a long handle; parigha–has iron spikes all over the surface. Unlike arrows, these spears are hurled singly but like arrows got chopped off mid-air, passed through the enemy’s body and got stuck in earth.
Raghuvaṃśa (IV. 63, VII. 58, IX. 66) calls spears as bhalla.
Footnotes and references:
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