Nitiprakasika (Critical Analysis)
by S. Anusha | 2016 | 34,012 words
This page relates ‘Nalika (Musket)’ 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.
Nalikā (Musket)
[Full title: War weapons > Śāstras > Muktāyudhas > Nalikā (Musket)]
This weapon attacks opponents at vital points by flinging small arrows.
There are three possible actions and the weapon hits the enemy nearby (IV. 41):
[...]
(a) Grahaṇa–holding
(b) Dhmāpana–igniting
(c) Syūtam–piercing
Tattvavivṛti defines it as [...] thereby makes it clear that it is a tubular weapon. Dikshitar like Oppert, calls it a hand-held gun or musket rightly piercing the mark. It is used to discharge darts upon ignition. Both Śukranīti (V.135-39) and Kāmandakīyanītisāra (V.51) give an account of the types of nalikā as well as the gunpowder that was used. Generally, there were two varieties of this weapon, one large and the other small. While the former was like a cannon operated by a group of men, the latter was just a compact gun for the soldier.
The critical edition of Nītiprakāśikā (along with Tattvavivṛti) (p. 254) by Urmi. S. Shah, provides an additional information.
By way of explaining the weapon nalikā, the commentary Tattvavivṛti cites the second half of the verse Naiṣadha (II. 28cd)[1] and says:
[...][2]
According to this verse of Naiṣadha, the brows of Damayanti are compared to the tow bows of Rati and Manmatha and the two elevated nostrils are likened to the guns of Rati and Manmatha who wish to throw balls on Nala.
Mallinātha’s explanations on this make it all the more clear when he refers to nalikā and droṇīcāpa from which śaras or dart or ball get discharged.
He reads:
[...]
Mallinātha reflects Nītiprakāśikā’ s term droṇīcāpaśarāsani (in IV. 40) used for nalikā.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Naiṣadha (II. 28cd): [...]