Nitiprakasika (Critical Analysis)
by S. Anusha | 2016 | 34,012 words
This page relates ‘Samhara Weapons (2): Upasamhara-Astras’ 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.
Saṃhāra Weapons (2): Upasaṃhāra-Astras
[Full title: War weapons > Astras > Saṃhāras > Upasaṃhāra-astras]
The text opens this section stating that the knowledge of these upasaṃhārāstras help in quelling the astras of the enemies (Nītiprakāśikā II. 28):
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The commentator adds that the nipāta–‘ca’ in the verse indicates that the astra when discharged with mantra gets the potency to comeback to the person who discharged it.
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Tattvavivṛti further adds that the term Upasaṃhāra has to be understood as not dischargeable a second time; by this it is understood that these astras can be utilized only once.
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Now, Nītiprakāśikā II. 29-34 enlists the name of Upasaṃhārāstras as follows:
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Very limited observations are made by the commentator in this section. They are:
(1) Satyavān–the true
(2) Satyakīrti–the truly-famed
(3) Rabhasa–the impetuous
(4) Dhṛṣṭa–the bold
(5) Pratīhāra–the warding off
(6) Avāṅmukha–the downfaced
(7) Parāṅmukha–the averted face
(8) Dhṛḍhanābha–the weapon with firm navel
(9) Alakṣya–the imperceptible
(10) Lakṣya–the perceptible
(11) Āvila–the turbid; Tattvavivṛti states that it has another name ‘Anila’–[...]
(12) Sunābhaka–the weapon with good navel
(13) Daśākṣa–the ten-eyed
(14) Śatavaktra–the hundred-mouthed
(15) Daśaṣīrsa–the ten-headed
(16) Śatodara–the hundred-bellied
(17) Dharmanābha–the weapon with the navel of right
(18) Mahānābha–the big-navelled
(19) Dundunābha–drum navelled[1]
(20) Nābhaka–the navelled
(21) Jyotiṣa–the luminous
(22) Vimala–the stainless
(23) Nairāsya–the discourager
(24) Kṛśana–the emaciating
(25) Yogandhara–the united
(26) Sanidra–the sleeping
(27) Daitya–the fiendish; the name does not mean that they are sons of Diti, says Tattvavivṛti–[...]
(28) Pramathana–churning missile[2]
(29) Sārcimāli–garland of energy
(30) Dhṛti–the supporting
(31) Māli–the necklaced
(32) Vṛttimān–the abiding
(33) Rucira–the glittering
(34) Pitṛya–the paternal
(35) Saumanasa–the good-minded
(36) Vidhūta–the vibrating
(37) Makara–the monster
(39) Dhanarati–the desire of wealth
(40) Dhānya–the grain
(41) Kāmarūpaka–the shape-assumer
(42) Jṛṃbhaka–the gaper
(43) Āvarana–the protecting
(44) Moha–the fascinating
(45) Kāmaruci–following one’s own wishes
(46) Varuṇa–the missile of Varuṇa
(47) Sarvadamana–the all-subduer
(48) Sandhāna–the aimer
(49) Sarvanābhaka–the missile of god of serpents
(50) Sarvamocana–annihilator of all
It is noteworthy that the commenatator links the details given by the text about the origin of the astras (muktāmuktas) given in the sarga I (verses 44-6) and the list of these astras given in sarga II (verses 22-41); thus he provides the reader with complete picture of these astras and their powers.
No description of these astras are given by the text as it had given in the case of Muktāyudhas and Amuktāyudhas.
Taking note of this fact, the commentator correctly remarks (on verse 25) that one has to understand the effect of these astras from their etymological derivation:
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Footnotes and references:
[1]:
[2]:
Text reads pramathaja but Oppert’s reading of pramathana is preferred.
[3]:
Text reads karalīra; Urmi Shah makes note of the other reading karavīra.