Nitiprakasika (Critical Analysis)
by S. Anusha | 2016 | 34,012 words
This page relates ‘Mantramukta-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.
Mantramukta-astras
[Full title: War weapons > Astras > Mantramukta-astras]
The text Nītiprakāśikā (II.40-41ab) lists the six mantramukta astras and tells about their nature as–Viṣṇucakra, Vajra, Brahmāstra, Kālapāśa, Nārāyaṇa and Pāśupata–these special missiles cannot be overpowered by any other astra (na - aśāmyam - itara - astrakaiḥ); rather no astra exists that can control these six astras.
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On this point the commentary explains that these six astras can be quelled only by themselves and not by any other. For example, Tattvavivṛti adds in Viśvāmitra-Vaśiṣṭha -yuddha the brahmāstra had to be nullified by another brahmāstra only. Thus here the word mantramukta implies that no other mantra other than itself can nullify it when the astra involved with that mantra:
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