Nitiprakasika (Critical Analysis)
by S. Anusha | 2016 | 34,012 words
This page relates ‘Maushtika (Fist Sword, Dagger)’ 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.
Mauṣṭika (Fist Sword, Dagger)
[Full title: War weapons > Śāstras > Amuktāyudhas > Mauṣṭika (Fist Sword, Dagger)]
This is a dagger carried by wrestlers says Tattvavivṛti:
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It has a well-made handle. The circular maṇḍalas related to using this weapon are varied and also the stances (sthānas); these movements are resorted to for reaching out the target and return (V.41-42ab):
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Tattvavivṛti cites M.B[1] here to explain the various maṇḍalas–moving only one leg is named cārimaṇḍala; moving the legs one by one becomes karaṇamaṇḍala; when the karaṇas are in close occurrence it is called khaṇḍamaṇḍala; three such khaṇḍas form a mahāmaṇḍala. Again for explaining the various stances, Tattvavivṛti cites M.B[2] which enlists them as–vaiṣṇava, samapāda, vaiśākha, maṇḍala, pratyālīḍha and anālīḍha. Tattvavivṛti explains this as the movements of the legs like forward, backward and sideways, that involve going and returning back and forth.
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There are several possible movements for this weapon (V. 41-44):
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(a) Parimokṣam prahārāṇām–Preventing enemy attack by moving aside and soon -[...]
(b) Varjana [Varjanam]–Avoiding one’s own strike from becoming futile–[...]
(c) Paridhāvana–Avoiding being overpowered by swirling around–[...]
(d) Abhidravaṇa–going quickly towards the enemy -[...]
(e) Avasthāna–āplāva–Slight movement -[...]; retaining the positions -[...]
(f) Savigraha–Holding steady after encountering - [...]
(g) Parāvṛtta–Turning back - [...]
(h) Apāvṛtta–Rotary movement sideways - [...]
(i) Apadruta–Charging with one’s body and holding the enemy knee to knee - [...]
(j) Avapluta–frog leap - [...]
(k) Upanyasta–catching the extended hand of the enemy -[...]
(l) Apanyasta–Stretching to grab enemy’s arm–[...]
(m) Āghāta–Colliding shoulder to shoulder - [...]
(n) Sphālana–Making noise by clapping the thighs and shoulder -[...]
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Āraṇyakaparva. 86. 17: [...]
[2]:
Udyogaparva. 168. 7: [...]