Nitiprakasika (Critical Analysis)

by S. Anusha | 2016 | 34,012 words

This page relates ‘Dantakantaka (Tooth-Thorn)’ 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.

Dantakaṇṭaka (Tooth-Thorn)

[Full title: War weapons > Śāstras > Muktāyudhas > Dantakaṇṭaka (Tooth-Thorn)]

This tooth-thorn shaped weapon has iron pellets on it. It has a nice handle for holding and making the two movements [IV.50cd]:

[...]

(a) Pātana—Felling and

(b) Grathana—Piercing

The commentary adds that since the text reads–aṅgārakanibhākṛtiḥ which means that it looks like the burning charcoal, probably it is made of copper:

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