Nitiprakasika (Critical Analysis)
by S. Anusha | 2016 | 34,012 words
This page relates ‘Shataghni (Hundred-Killer)’ 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.
Śataghnī (Hundred-Killer)
[Full title: War weapons > Śāstras > Amuktāyudhas > Śataghnī (Hundred-Killer)]
This weapon is thorny and has metallic body that is firm. It is circular, has handle and looks similar to a Mudgara.
Its movements are similar to that of a gadā. (Nītiprakāśikā V.49ab):
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Tattvavivṛti defines it as the weapon which kills hundred people at one stroke:
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Oppert in his introductory remarks (pp.10-12) to his edition of the Nītiprakāśikā writes in details about Śataghnī tracing its origin from the Ṛg and Yajurvedas. Bhaṭṭabhāskara on YV. V.4.7.3 considers sūrmī and Śataghnī and explains it as a ‘flaming pillar made of metal’. Vidyāraṇya follows suit.
Analysing all these informations he comes to a conclusion that:
“The Śataghnī was used as a missile in some way or other is apparent from many places where it occurs as such in the epics, but, on the other hand, it is equally certain that in other places it clearly denotes a projectile weapon which throws a destructive missile on the enemy. In each capacity, both as the cannon and as the shot, it deserves its name–hundred killer.”
Dhanurveda instructs that to protect kingdom from invasion of enemies, this śataghni should be placed at the entrance of the fort. Cannon ball and other arms should also be kept ready (I. 75):
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