Nitiprakasika (Critical Analysis)

by S. Anusha | 2016 | 34,012 words

This page relates ‘Drughana (Hatchet)’ 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.

Drughana (Hatchet)

[Full title: War weapons > Śāstras > Muktāyudhas > Drughana (Hatchet)]

This weapon is made of iron (āyasāṅga). It has four unique movements (IV. 37):

[...]

(1) Unnāmana–raising

(2) Prapāta–felling

(3) Sphoṭana–breaking asunder

(4) Dāraṇa–splitting

Tattvavivṛti defines it as lohalaguḍa (iron club) attached with a big head–

[...]

Also it explains sphoṭana one of the movements as `breaking asunder’ (vidalakaraṇa).

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